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 Dec 2, 2022 23:31:00 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Death. It was a scary thing, wasn't it? The whole uncertainty of what happens after and the thought of leaving loved ones behind. It was enough to spread fear within people's heart as most people tried everything within their might to avoid death, but it knows no discrimination nor does it forget. Jed felt like death was written in bold letters above his head, it felt like he could almost see it whenever he looked at his own reflection in the mirror, but it was all just in his head. He felt like he was mocking death by not letting the fear consume him and maybe it was waiting for him to close his eyes with its teeth bared ready to show him that he should've felt that fear from the very beginning, that he should've steered clear from his plan to become a hybrid. But, how could he feel any fear when he knows for certain that once he wakes up, he will have immortality on his side, keeping him youthful and powerful enough to never have to worry about wrinkles growing on his face or his hair turning white with age.
Immortality was the answer to many of his concerns and now that it was within reach, he didn't feel an ounce of fear in him. He wanted to have the chance to spend the rest of his life next to Ben and their loved ones while leaving behind good memories with those who weren't blessed with immortality. Why would he feel fear when it was his choice all along to become a hybrid? No one had slapped him on the wrist and asked him to become a hybrid, no one twisted his hand and forced him to make that choice. If anything, nearly everyone warned him against it and only supported him once they have made sure that Jed had thought it through. It wasn't an easy decision to make, especially since he won't be just a werewolf but a vampire too and he had seen how fickle control can be, but he was ready. He'd been ready for a while now. He won't be changing his mind any time soon.
Jed snapped out of his thoughts as he watched Hope place down her bag which undoubtedly carried a blood bag inside of it, he could smell the heavy metallic scent of blood, but it was muted. "There wasn't an option for flavored blood?" Jed questioned with a brief chuckle falling from his lips, it wasn't long before Hope was chuckling too as she took the time to put the candles down one after the other, using her magic later on to light up every single one which helped create a serene and peaceful mood. Maybe it was for him and everyone else who might be feeling anxious about Jed becoming a hybrid. Jed's attention moved away from what Hope was doing and brought his attention to Ben, his lips stretching into a small smile. "Still feeling okay 'bout this?" He decided to start with Ben first. He wanted to make sure that everyone was still okay with him going through with his plan and if any of them objected, he will call it off because it was their comfort that mattered to him most. "It's okay if you're having second thoughts."
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 Dec 4, 2022 0:19:54 GMT
The day had finally come for Jed to become a hybrid and Ben was feeling both happy and sad about it. He was looking forward to the two of them having their whole future together but at the same time he was dreading watching Jed die again. Ben knew that this time it would only be temporary and when Jed woke up he would be immortal so there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that it would be worth it in the end but seeing something like that happen to Jed was never going to sit well with Ben. He knew that they were alike in that respect, Ben had literally stepped into the line of fire for him so he wouldn’t have to die again even though he’d known that he would come back and Ben knew that he would do the same for Jed in an instant if he could. He understood why Jed wanted this and Ben would be lying if he said that he didn’t want Jed to become a hybrid so he wouldn’t lose Jed to old age one day but he still wished that there was another way that wouldn’t involve Jed having to die. There wasn’t another way, though, so this was all they had and Ben knew that he needed to stay strong for Jed. He would have given his immortality up for Jed in a heartbeat if he could but that wasn’t an option and if he was honest he knew that one mortal lifetime with Jed would never be enough anyway. By becoming a hybrid Jed would be ensuring that they could stay together forever and Ben wanted that more than he was ready to admit to anyone yet, including himself. Ben kept reminding himself that everything would be fine in the end and if he was honest having Jed’s family and Hope around helped. Ben had promised that he would try not to cry when Jed died but he wasn’t sure that he would be able to hold back the tears when the time came. He loved Jed more than he had ever thought that it was possible to love someone and he needed to stay strong for Jed so he really was going to try. Hearing Jed make a joke about flavoured blood was enough to bring a smile to Ben’s face. It was just like Jed to make a joke when things were a little tense and Ben knew that he really shouldn’t have expected anything different. Jed had made jokes for ages after the dragon killed him so chances were that it was going to happen again with this as well and that was something that Ben knew that he was ready for. Watching as Hope started positioning candles around the room, Ben turned to look at Jed as he asked if he was still feeling okay about this and said it was okay if he was having second thoughts. “You know I’m never going to feel comfortable with the idea of you dying so I wish there was another way to do this but there isn’t,” Ben said, bringing his hand up and letting it rest against Jed’s cheek before pressing his lips against Jed’s. “I could never have second thoughts about this. You know how much I want forever with you,” he added, taking Jed’s hand in his and tracing his thumb over the engagement ring Jed was now wearing after Ben had given it to him the night before. “I love you so much,” he breathed as he lifted his gaze to meet Jed’s, needing to say those words out loud even though Jed already knew how he felt. “Today is the first day of the rest of our lives and the fact that you’re ready to do this means the world to me.”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 Dec 4, 2022 7:44:31 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed was looking forward to having eternity on his side. He'd carried the worries of aging and leaving Ben behind for a long time now and after everything that Ben had been through, if he could at least promise eternity then he'd be guaranteeing that he won't be putting Ben through the pain of losing him permanently. It explained why Jed wasn't scared of dying tonight. He was looking at the big picture and if anything, he'd been looking forward to tonight for a while now. Having Ben and everyone else he cared about in the room also helped tremendously.
In the beginning of the night, he'd shown his ring to his family, far too excited to keep it a surprise for long. Ben had proposed to him the night before and of course, Jed had said yes. Just the surprise of Ben decorating the Old Mill was enough to nearly move him to tears, you can imagine his reaction when he processed Ben's question. If you ask Jed, he'd tell you that he never thought he'd find himself in a long-term relationship, let alone get engaged to his partner. Ben was his first in so many ways. His first love, first boyfriend, first fiance, and he knew he'd be his last.
But with how heavy today was, he knew he would never hold it against any of his family, including Ben, if they started having second thoughts about tonight. Hope was also, of course, included in the picture. He figured he'd start with Ben first to see how he was doing and if he was having any second thoughts. He was quiet as he listened to Ben, his lips stretching into a sympathetic smile. Jed had hoped for the same thing. For there to be another way for him to become a hybrid but in order for the blood to do its thing, he needs to actually die with it in his system. He knew that everyone already knew that.
Jed leaned into the hand resting on his cheek with the same smile still resting on his lips. Though when Ben leaned forward to press their lips together, he was more than happy to return the kiss, his hand moving to rest on Ben's cheek, though when they disconnected from the kiss, Ben continued and as always, Jed listened. "I know." Jed finally spoke up, his hand moving from Ben's cheek to rest on top of Ben's hand, the one already holding his own hand. "I love you too, so much." They had exchanged 'i love you's one too many times now but each time still felt really special to Jed. "Of course. Now that I've found you, I won't let you go." Jed said with a gentle smile resting on his lips as he let his thumb trace Ben's knuckles. Ben was right. Today was the first day of the rest of their lives and it already felt really, really special.
Jed pressed a final kiss on Ben's lips before he leaned back. "Lemme check on them, see if they're still okay with me doing this." Jed's voice was soft as he spoke, his attention gradually moving from Ben to rest on his family. Hope was already done with setting up and now she was standing next to Josie. "How are you guys feeling? Are you still okay with me doing this?" He figured checking on them was in order since they were getting a lot closer to actually doing the... thing.
"As long as you're sure that this is what you want, sweetheart. What you want is what matters." Jenna spoke up with a gentle smile mirroring Jed's on her lips. Jed nodded his head with a grateful smile on his lips. "If you're sure that you wanna do this, I'll support you, Jed." It was Hope who spoke next, nodding her head as she stayed close to Josie. "Thank you. I really appreciate this." Jed truthfully said, his attention moving between Hope and his mom before he looked at Josie and his dad to see how they were doing.
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 Dec 4, 2022 23:22:08 GMT
Ben had never thought that he would ever get the chance to have a life like this one. Mystic Falls was only ever meant to be the next in a long line of places where he could try and find a way to break his curse but it had quickly turned into so much more than that. Meeting Jed on his first day in town had changed everything and Ben knew that he wouldn't have it any other way. It still seemed a little surreal that Jed was willing to become a hybrid so they wouldn't have to worry about being torn apart one day but just the fact that Jed seemed so calm about this was enough to ease Ben's mind a little as well. The fact that Jed was going to have to die to become a hybrid was never going to sit well with him but he just had to keep reminding himself that it would all work out in the end. Once Jed revived he would be a hybrid and that was when their future together could really begin. They were already living together and now they were engaged so things were finally falling into place. Jed was the love of his life so Ben knew that he was never going to take this for granted. Having Jed's family and Hope there was going to help because if he was honest Ben had been dreading waiting for Jed to revive on his own. Ben knew that he wouldn't want to be anywhere else but just having others around to take his mind off of the fact that Jed was dead, even if only temporarily, was sure to help. One thing was for sure, Ben was never going to change his mind about this. He wanted that future with Jed even though it might be selfish for him to admit that and as long as Jed hadn't changed his mind then Ben knew that he would support him no matter what and he would be there for him every step of the way. Ben couldn't help but smile as Jed leaned into his touch and his smile widened as Jed kissed him back. He wasn't surprised when Jed said he knew, neither of them was ever going to be comfortable with the other dying and that wasn't going to change. At least they would have forever once this part was over. "I'll never get tired of hearing you say that," he admitted, his heart skipping a beat when Jed told him he loved him. Ben would never get tired of telling Jed he loved him either. As Jed covered his hand, Ben turned his hand slightly and clasped Jed's hand in his own. Jed's next words were enough to bring a smile to Ben's lips as their eyes met. "I'm not letting you go either, we're stuck with each other now and I wouldn't have it any other way," Ben assured him. Kissing Jed back, Ben nodded as he said that he was going to check on his family. "Of course," he said gently, knowing that if any of them were having second thoughts then Jed wouldn't want to go ahead with it. They all meant the world to Jed and there was no way that he was going to do anything without their support. Jenna and Hope were both quick to voice their support and Ben kept Jed's hand clasped in his as they both turned to look at Ric and Josie. "You don't need to worry about us, son. As long as this is still what you want then we support you," Ric promised and Josie nodded. "I haven't changed my mind, I still want you to stay with us forever," Josie assured him. "How are you feeling about this? Do you still want to go through with it?" Ben asked, knowing he would understand if Jed had changed his mind. Jed had seemed so excited earlier when he had told his family about their engagement but Ben knew he would still want to marry Jed even if he decided to stay mortal. "It's okay if you're having second thoughts, either way I'm not going anywhere."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 Dec 5, 2022 15:54:32 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
"Good, because I'll never get tired of saying it." Jed admitted with a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He can't imagine himself growing tired of telling Ben how much he loves him. His feelings for Ben were there to stay and he can't imagine that they will go away, not now or later. He felt a soft smile form on his lips when Ben told him that he won't be letting go of him either. Jed was definitely happy to hear that and now with his immortality within reach, they won't have to worry about mortality getting in the way.
After checking on Ben, he knew that he should also check on his family and Hope to see if they were still okay with him becoming a hybrid, knowing that if any of them objected to the idea, he'd be happy to bench it because their comfort mattered to him the most, but as it turned out, they didn't seem against the idea, it made his lips stretch into a thankful smile as he nodded his head, his hand still holding onto Ben's. "Thank you guys. Really. Don't worry though, it is still what I want." Jed reassured them with the same smile still present on his lips. It really did mean a lot to him that they were still supporting him in his decision to become a hybrid even though he knew it would be incredibly difficult for them to see him dead, even though his death would only be momentary. He was still asking a lot of them, so he was grateful that they still chose to support him.
Jed's attention turned to Ben at his question, releasing a contemplating hum as he thought about what he was feeling right now. "I feel –" Jed began, his lips pressed together for a moment. "Excited. A little nervous. Naturally so. But I don't feel scared. I mean how can I possibly feel scared when I have all of you around me?" Jed's expression softened at Ben's words before he shook his head. "No second thoughts. I promise." Jed promised with a nod of his head. "I've had an incredible past couple of days to prepare myself for this moment. I felt like I've said my goodbyes to my mortality and to being just a werewolf." Especially with everything that Ben has done for him yesterday and his family gathering today. It felt like he'd said goodbye twice to this version of himself. "I'm ready to do this." Jed promised once again and his tone must have carried enough conviction in it for Hope to hold out a vial to him. He reached to take it from her. "Thank you."
Jed glanced over at the bed before his attention drifted to Ben, his hand still holding Ben's. "I should probably sit down for this, right? Or lay down, I guess?" It was a rhetorical question at best as he began heading toward the bed, Ben's hand still clasped in his own. He The candles that Hope had placed around the bedroom made him feel a lot less anxious and despite his initial excitement, he knew it was absolutely normal for him to feel a bit anxious now that they were getting a whole lot closer to the whole turning-into-a-hybrid thing. "Do I just – chug it all in one go?" Jed had to let go of Ben's hand, only momentarily, to uncap the vial to not risk dropping it by doing it all with one hand. "Preferably. Just a lil fair warning, it's not gonna taste nice." Hope warned with a brief chuckle falling from her lips and it wasn't long before Jed was tagging along as he released a chuckle of his own.
"Okay, got it. Easy enough. In one go." Jed forced himself not to think about it too much or else he'll inevitably chicken out and he can't let that happen. With Ben's hand in his own once again, he downed the contents of the vial in one go before, swallowing it down before he could focus on the taste. Jed wiped the edge of his mouth later, humming momentarily. "Oh, that's really good. Can I have seconds?" Jed questioned, feigning a serious tone. "I'm kidding. That was an uh... interesting taste, for sure." Jed licked his lips to make sure he didn't have any blood on them. Hope rolled her eyes in a manner he could only describe as fond, her lips stretching into a smile not long after. Jed copied the smile with ease. "Sorry, I just didn't want things to get tense or anything like that." Jed understood that now Hope's blood was in his system, what was left was the hardest step, so he wanted to at least try to lighten up the mood a little bit.
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 Dec 6, 2022 0:21:45 GMT
“You’d better not,” Ben grinned as Jed said that he would never get tired of saying it. “I won’t either.” He had spent such a long time on his own thinking that he would never get to have something like this but he knew that what he and Jed had was special. Ben had spent his whole life searching for it without even realising and now that he had he felt like he was finally home. Ben knew that things were going to change in the future but one thing he was certain of was the fact that his feelings for Jed weren’t going to change. They were going to have eternity together and the truth was that Ben really couldn’t wait. Ben wasn’t at all surprised that Jed wanted to check on his family and Hope after he’d made sure that Ben hadn’t changed his mind. One thing he had learned about Jed pretty early on was that he always put the needs of others before his own. By having Hope take over as Alpha of the school’s pack Jed was putting himself first for the first time in a long time and Ben really was proud of him for that. There was a part of Ben that was worried that one of them might speak up and say they’d changed their mind but that didn’t happen and as Jed thanked them before saying it was really what he wanted, Ben let out the breath he hadn’t even realised he was holding and gave Jed’s hand a gently squeeze. They were all so supportive of Jed and not for the first time Ben was incredibly glad that Jed had them all in his corner. They hadn’t just decided to support Jed’s decision to become a hybrid, they had also decided to be there to show their support in person and Ben was glad that they had done. Once they knew that Jed’s family and Hope hadn’t changed their minds, Ben knew that it was time to make sure that Jed hadn’t done either. He had seemed so calm through all of this and he seemed to be taking it all in his stride but Ben wouldn’t be surprised if the thought of dying again was enough to make him nervous and he nodded as Jed confirmed it. “It’s okay to feel nervous, I’d actually be a little worried if you weren’t,” he admitted. “We’re all here for you though, we’re not going anywhere,” Ben assured him. That much was true for him at least, he didn’t plan on leaving Jed’s side and he had a feeling that the others wouldn’t either. “I’m glad,” he added, a half smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as Jed said he wasn’t having second thoughts. As Jed spoke again, Ben brought his free hand up and let it rest lightly against Jed’s cheek. “You’ve never been just a werewolf and I don’t mean because you’re an Alpha but I get it,” he nodded. Even without the Alpha title Jed was incredible and Ben knew that wasn’t going to change. Hearing Jed say that he was ready to do this was enough to bring a smile to Ben’s lips and he leaned forward and pressed a kiss against Jed’s lips before leaning away and watching him take the vial from Hope. “I don’t think there’s any set rules for this, however you feel more comfortable,” Ben offered as he sat down on the bed next to Jed, knowing that Jed’s comfort really was all that mattered. It was strange having so many people in their bedroom but the candles Hope had positioned around the room made it feel so different and for that Ben really was glad. He was doing his best to be strong for Jed but he had a feeling that he would end up breaking down once Jed was gone and no matter how much he told himself that he wasn’t going to cry would be enough to stop that. Jed had to let go of his hand in order to open the vial but Ben didn’t move away from him, instead he let his hand rest on the small of Jed’s back in a way that would hopefully reassure him as he did this. It wasn’t long before the vial was open and Jed’s hand found his once more and Ben gave Jed’s hand a gentle squeeze. “You’ve got this,” Ben assured him, a half smile tugging at the corner of his lips as Ric and Josie both nodded in agreement. As Jed hummed and said it was really good before asking for seconds, Ben couldn’t help but laugh. “Joke all you want now but soon enough it will taste good to you,” he said, a fond smile forming on his face as he looked over at Jed, starting to feel a little more at ease now that Jed was making jokes. “Of course you’re still making jokes at a time like this,” he teased before rolling his eyes playfully. Now Hope’s blood was in Jed’s system and it was almost time for the moment that Ben was dreading. There wasn’t much that Ben could do right now other than support Jed but one thing he could do was try and keep his mind off of what was about to happen and that’s exactly what he wanted to do. Bringing his hand up, he brushed Jed’s hair away from his face gently. “You’ve been so brave about all of this but you don’t need to see when it’s going to happen,” he said, hoping he could spare Jed from that at least as he took Jed’s other hand in his and gave them a gentle tug so that Jed would turn to look at him. “Are you ready?” he asked as his eyes met Jed’s. Once he confirmed that he was, Ben pulled Jed into his arms and held him tightly. “Close your eyes,” he said gently, hoping that Jed would listen. “You know the story of Pandora’s box?” he asked, hoping to keep Jed distracted long enough so that he wouldn’t realise what Hope was doing. “They say that Pandora opened a box and released evil into the world but that isn’t how it happened. Evil existed long before she was born but after losing someone she loved at the hands of a demon she became a warrior. She fought to save the world, not harm it, but she knew that there were people who were supernatural who were trying to do the same thing just like you,” he said, knowing that what he said to Jed right now wasn’t anywhere near as important as the fact that he was giving him something else to think about. “It was the people she was trying to stop who convinced the world that she was to blame for it all.”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 Dec 6, 2022 20:57:39 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
There was a soft smile that formed on Jed's lips at Ben's words. He can't imagine that a time will come where he won't feel the same amount of love for Ben. What they had was special, incredibly so, and that feeling was there to stay. Even if they wind up spending centuries together, he knew that his feelings for Ben won't change. "Good." Jed said with the same soft smile still on his lips when Ben assured him that he won't get tired of saying that he loved him. Each time Ben confessed his love to him, his heart stuttered as though he was hearing it for the very first time all over again. It made him feel really happy. So, of course, he wanted Ben to know that he loved him all the same. Sometimes, they get into the whole 'I love you more' and then they try to one-up each other with the amount of love they feel for each other but he had a feeling if they started doing that now, they will only stop when Hope goes through with the spell, so he refrained from saying I love you more and instead told him that he loved him so much.
Though it wasn't long before he was confessing that he was feeling a little nervous but at least it wasn't fear. He let out a soft chuckle at Ben's words before he nodded his head in agreement. It definitely would've been really weird if he hadn't felt nervous since he was taking a huge step that was bound to change his life entirely. "Yeah, it definitely would've been worrisome." Jed said with a half-smile on his lips after his laughter had faded. His expression soon softened as he nodded his head once more. "That makes me happy." Jed would've been really nervous if he'd been alone, but thankfully, he wasn't alone. He had Ben, his parents, his sister, and Hope. He had absolutely nothing to worry about. He was going to be okay. "It's why I'm only a little nervous. Having you guys around helps. A lot." Jed admitted with a soft smile resting on his lips, looking between everyone in the room before his eyes relaxed on Ben once again when he told him that he was glad that he wasn't having any second thoughts about becoming a hybrid. So was Jed. He moved his hand to let it rest on top of Ben's own hand when he placed it against his cheek, the touch reassuring and his words were even more so. "Thank you." Jed replied in a soft voice. It really did mean a lot to him to hear Ben say that.
Jed murmured a soft 'okay' before he began making his way to the bed, figuring that being comfortable was the key, so he settled comfortably on the bed with Ben close by as always which helped him relax some more as a gentle smile formed on his lips. It wasn't long before the vial was in his hand and he momentarily let go of Ben's hand, though he felt it settle on the small of his back soon after which gave him a push to down the vial without thinking too much about it. With Ben's encouraging words in mind, Jed downed the vial, barely suppressing the urge to make a face at the blood, though he forced himself not to think too much about it because he was worried he might just wind up making himself sick by doing so. Soon enough, he was cracking a joke to ease any tension that might be lingering in the air before Ben's words made him pause for a moment. "That's so weird to think 'bout." Jed said with a soft chuckle falling from his lips not long after. He'd seen MG feeding from blood bags before and he didn't look at all disgusted by it. "But now I'm kinda excited to know what it tastes like without the... bloodiness of it all, I guess." He had a feeling that made zero sense, but he was just wondering if it will taste good because it will taste different to him, or if it will be because its literally just blood. Jed's lips split into a grin at Ben's words. "Honestly, are you surprised?" He did make burn jokes for the longest time after coming back to life thanks to Ben's abilities, so of course he was gonna exhaust all the jokes he could think of now.
Jed's eyes remained fixed on Ben, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he felt Ben's hand brush his hair away from his face, his touch was gentle as always. "Okay." Jed's voice was soft as he spoke. As always, Ben was putting his comfort first. He didn't want him to see Hope drawing near so she could finish the spell because then, he might feel that brief spark of fear and he'd hate for fear to be the last emotion coursing through him before he draws his last breath. With Ben's gentle guidance, Jed turned to face Ben, his eyes focused solely on him. When he asked if he was ready, Jed drew in a breath and released it softly before he nodded his head, his smile still present on his lips. "I am." Shortly after his confirmation, Ben drew him close into a tight embrace and almost immediately, Jed wrapped his arms around him too, finding Ben's familiar scent to be comforting in many ways. Jed closed his eyes, following Ben's instructions and just like that, all he could focus on was the sound of Ben's voice and his comforting scent as his arms tightened for a moment around Ben. In a way, having his eyes closed like this reminded him of last night's surprise and that was enough to make his lips stretch into a small smile. Last night had been unexpected in so many ways but it was undoubtedly a day he'll never forget. "Oh, the box that released evil?" Jed sounded fully invested in the story and that's because he really was.
Jed released a soft gasp of surprise when he realized that the story was all messed up. Pandora had only wanted to protect the world, not harm it. "Oh my god... So that means... The story we know today is all wrong? Makes me wonder what else we got wrong." Jed's shock was visible in the tone of his voice, fully invested in the story as his mind began to race with all sorts of pictures of what Pandora's life must've looked like. "But I can't help but think that she must've felt so sad... and alone. I can't imagine what it must've been like for her to be misjudged and for people to continue misjudging her to this day." Jed nuzzled his face into the crook of Ben's neck, finding himself fully invested in the story to the point where he couldn't even hear the sound of Hope moving closer. "You know..." Jed began, his voice quiet as he leaned back a little to speak clearer. "She reminds me of you." Jed finally said, his hand gently rubbing Ben's back before stilling, though his arms were still wrapped around his fiancé.
"You unleashed magic with the best intentions in mind. You didn't want them to seek help from the absent gods anymore. You didn't want them to experience the kind of loss you've had to go through and if the magic couldn't help you save Ashur, then it can save others who were fortunate enough to be blessed with more time." Jed's voice was soft as he spoke, still oblivious to the fact that Hope was a lot closer now.
"You must've been so lonely and sad, too." Jed's voice was soft as he spoke, if not laced with a bit of sadness. "But it's okay, 'cause I'm here now. You won't ever have to be alone again." Jed's fingers tightened around the fabric of Ben's shirt, holding the other close to himself. "I'd love to hear more of these stories. Got one more?"
Hope glanced behind her at Jed's family, giving them a nod of her head as a warning that she was about to go through with the spell. She wanted them to at least have some time to prepare themselves for what was to come even though she doubted that'd even be easy for them. It was pretty hard for Hope, too. But she had to respect Jed's wishes. Hope understood what Ben was doing and with how preoccupied Jed was, she had no doubt that he hadn't felt her getting closer. Hope waited for a few moments before she swallowed past the lump in her throat, her lips finally parting to utter out the spell under her breath, keeping her voice down so Jed wouldn't hear her. "Corum spiritus prohibera."
Jed had been so invested in talking to Ben that he'd completely forgotten all about the spell and when the death spell hit him, it was – painless. In a way, Jed could tell that he was dying but it had been quick. He could feel his own heartbeat slow down, each beat happening with a gap between them until the very last beat before it all stopped. Ben's voice growing muffled as though he was slowly entering a soundproof room and Jed was on the other side as he watched the door slowly close, his voice becoming harder and harder to hear until it all drifted into nothingness and his lips parted to breathe out his own very last breath as his arms slowly but surely grew lax around Ben, unable to keep them wrapped around him for long as his hands slid down until they were met with the mattress below. Ben's familiar scent had been the very last thing that he smelled before he drifted off into a far away world.
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 Dec 6, 2022 23:37:09 GMT
For such a long time Ben’s life had been consumed by his curse and the truth was that he couldn’t remember a time that was any different until he found his way to Mystic Falls. Like so many others who were supernatural he had felt himself being drawn to the town and he had hoped that someone there would be able to help him find a way to break his curse at long last but it had never occurred to him that he might end up finding so much more than that. Even with Ashur he had never felt a love like this, it was so intense and Ben knew that he would hold onto it for as long as he could. Not only was the fact that Hope and Josie had found a way to stop the monsters coming after him a surprise, the fact that he had found Jed after being alone for such a long time had changed his life completely. Now he knew that he would never get tired of hearing Jed say that he loved him or saying those words in return and every time those words were said it felt like it was for the first time. Ben knew just how precious those words were and now Jed was about to become a hybrid so they wouldn’t have to lose each other one day. Ben knew they were going to have a long and happy life ahead of them and he couldn’t wait for it to start. He had never wanted to pressure Jed into making this decision but in the end Jed had made it on his own and Ben knew that there was no way he was ever going to do anything other than support his fiancé in it. “Luckily for us you’ve really thought this through,” Ben said, a smile forming on his face as he looked over at Jed. He hadn’t known what to think at first when Jed had said about becoming a hybrid but he had soon realised how serious Jed was about it and that hadn’t changed now that the time had come for it to happen. Ben wasn’t looking forward to Jed dying but he kept on reminding himself that it would only be temporary and then Jed would be back with him where he belonged. It didn’t really make it that much better but he was trying to stay strong for Jed and he hoped that Jed couldn’t tell how nervous he was. “We promised we’d be here,” Ben said, his expression turning gentle as he glanced over at the others. “There’s nowhere else we’d rather be, son,” Ric assured him and Josie nodded. Ben knew that they weren’t happy about the fact that Jed was going to have to die either but they had showed up to support Jed and that meant the world. “It’s true. You always underestimate yourself but you’re incredible,” Ben said, giving Jed’s hand that he was holding a gentle squeeze. “You always look after everyone else, this is your time to put yourself first for a change,” he added, his eyes full of nothing but love for Jed as they met his. Jed had put his family, the squad and the pack first for such a long time but now it was time for him to put himself first. Ben knew that one of the reasons why Jed wanted to become a hybrid was so that he would be stronger and would be able to fight harder when the next threat found them but he was also choosing to leave his status as Alpha behind him and Ben knew that it was time that Jed did something like that for himself for a change. Other than the day Josie had become a heretic and Hope had activated her vampire side, Ben had never seen this happen before. Both of those were very extreme circumstances and he knew that it would be different for Jed. Thankfully they had talked him through it so he knew what to expect and that meant that he would be able to help Jed better. Ben knew that there wasn’t really much that he could do other than support him but he knew that he wanted to be there for Jed regardless. Sitting down next to Jed on the bed, Ben’s hand found the small of his back when Jed let go so he could open the vial and he would be lying if he said that the small point of contact didn’t make him feel a little better. “You’ll find out soon enough,” Ben chuckled. “You will get used to it, it actually tastes really nice once you’ve completed the transition,” Josie chimed in, hoping to ease her brother’s mind a little. It had been that way for her at least and she hoped that it would be for him as well since that would at least make it easier for him. As Jed asked if he was surprised that he was making jokes, Ben couldn’t help but laugh as he shook his head. “No, I’m used to it by now,” he chuckled. “I get the feeling we’re all going to be hearing a lot more of them,” he teased. What Jed was doing was such a big thing, he was literally changing his whole life right now and Ben knew that the last thing he wanted was for Jed to know when it was going to happen and finally feel the fear that he had been keeping at bay for so long. It wasn’t long before Jed was turning to face him and Ben felt a smile touch his lips as Jed took a deep breath before confirming that he was ready. Drawing Jed into his arms, Ben held him tightly and felt his heart skip a beat when Jed wrapped his arms around him in return. Just the thought that soon Jed wouldn’t be able to hold him like this any longer was enough to make his heart ache but Ben knew that he needed to do this for Jed. It was Jed that had made up his mind to become a hybrid after thinking it all through and Ben knew that the least he could do was try and make sure that the memory of today wouldn’t fill Jed with dread and fear whenever he thought about it. With the way they were positioned it was Ben who was facing the direction of Hope and Jed’s family and he let out a breath as Ric sent him a reassuring half smile. Ben knew that he needed to keep his voice steady to soothe Jed and he knew that if he saw Hope moving closer then his voice would give it away so Ben closed his eyes too, almost able to convince himself in that moment that it was just the two of them alone together the way it had been the night before. As Jed asked if he was talking about the box that released evil, Ben felt a smile form on his face and he nodded. “That’s the one,” he confirmed. “There’s a lot of stories that didn’t happen the way their told these days,” Ben explained and he could hear Ric and Josie catch their breath as well. He knew that this would be news to them all as well because Ben had a feeling that he was probably one of the few people, if not the only one, left alive today who knew the real story. “Those closest to her knew the truth but the people working against her were so convincing that everyone else had no choice but to believe them. As the years went on Pandora found a warlock who was able to create a Chambre de Chasse for her, one that was in the form of a box. That’s where the term came from. She travelled around trapping those supernaturals who had no humanity left in them that she had no way to kill but one day the box fell into the hands of someone who was helping her but had secretly turned against her. He released all of that evil into the world and Pandora was blamed for it.” That wasn’t the way the story was told these days but Ben knew that it was the truth and he could tell that Jed believed it too. As Jed nuzzled his face into the crook of his neck, Ben felt a pleasant warmth run through him and he held Jed a little tighter to him, glad that he seemed so interested given everything else that was going on. Ben really hadn’t known what to talk to him about but he had known that he’d had to think of something and it felt like he’d made the right choice. As Jed said she reminded him of Ben, Ben’s expression turned thoughtful for a moment and he almost opened his eyes so he could see Jed’s expression but he stopped himself. “Why’s that?” he asked instead, a gentle sigh escaping his lips as Jed rubbed his back. As Jed explained why the story seemed so similar, Ben felt a smile touch his lips as he rubbed Jed’s back gently. “You know, I never thought about it that way,” he admitted. “Sometimes things don’t always work out the way we planned but you’re right our intentions were good,” he nodded. Ben had ended up cursed for his actions and Pandora’s story had been twisted and changed over time. They had both been punished despite the fact that their intentions were good. Hearing Jed say that he must have been lonely and sad as well was enough to have Ben’s expression softening and he shifted a little closer to Jed as his fingers tightened around his shirt. “To be honest I didn’t realise how true that was until you found me. I had friends come and go but the closest friends I’d made in a long time before coming here are Gabriela and Adelina’s parents. We fought together during the Second World War but Ethan died in battle and after we came home I lost contact with Toni. I always knew that trying to create connections with people was dangerous because of my curse but you really did change everything,” Ben said, his tone gentle as he spoke. Jed had made him realise that it was about time that he started really living his life rather than letting his curse rule it and he didn’t regret listening to him one bit. “I’m going to hold you to that, you know,” he added, knowing that he would absolutely hold Jed to what he’d said about never having to be alone again. “I know you were on your own for a while after you triggered your curse but you’ll never be alone again either, I give you my word on that,” Ben said, knowing that he was never going to let Jed feel alone like that again. As he asked if he had anymore stories, Ben felt his smile return. “Oh, I’ve got a lot more,” he chuckled. “A lot of the myths and legends that are told today are completely wrong,” he added before starting to tell Jed another one. The whole time Ben kept his eyes closed, knowing that his voice would be sure to break if he saw Hope approaching. In a way he was glad that she hadn’t done it too soon because Ben knew that he had succeeded in distracting Jed from what was going to happen and that had been his goal all along. It was only when Jed let out a breath and he could no longer feel Jed’s chest rising and falling that Ben realised it had happened and tears immediately spilled over his lashes and rolled down his face as he opened his eyes at last. “Jed?” he asked gently, his voice breaking as he spoke his fiancé’s name despite knowing that he was already gone. Jed’s arms had loosened around him before then eventually fell to his sides and Ben held him even tighter as he cried. He knew that it was crazy considering that Jed would revive in a few hours but in that moment he was taken back to the day Jed had died when the dragon had attacked and the pain was overwhelming. Ben had always known that the tears would come but the crushing pain was something that he hadn’t expected and he stayed like that for a while just holding onto Jed tightly, time losing all meaning around him until he felt Ric’s hand on his shoulder. “It’s time to let him go son, he’s gone,” Ric said gently and when Ben looked up he could see that the others had been crying as well. “Why don’t you come downstairs and have a drink of water? It’ll be a while before he wakes up,” Josie suggested kindly but Ben shook his head. “I promised he wouldn’t have to be alone again, I can’t leave him,” he said, reluctantly laying Jed down before laying next to him and taking Jed’s hand in his. “You’re welcome to help yourselves to anything you want from the kitchen while you wait, I’m sorry I’m not a better host,” he added as he looked up at Jed’s family but Josie quickly assured him that they didn’t expect him to be. Jed had ingested Hope’s blood so he knew that he would be coming back without Ben’s help this time but until then his heart would remain broken. 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 Dec 8, 2022 20:48:26 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
"Yup." Jed agreed with a gentle smile on his lips. He wouldn't have made such a life-changing decision on a whim. He'd taken his time to weigh the good and bad and only when he was one hundred percent sure that becoming a hybrid was what he wanted, he decided to go pursue that goal with nothing but determination in his eyes. He knew that he would have felt a lot less brave if it hadn't been for everyone in the room with him. Each person present meant a whole lot to Jed, so having them around gave him the strength needed to stay strong and he was forever grateful for that. "I really do appreciate it." Jed said with a soft smile visible on his lips. He knew he could always count on them to keep their promises and to always be there for him when he needed their support. He hoped that they all knew they could always count on him when they needed support, too. He was always going to be there for each one of them. Jed's expression softened at Ben's words. He did seem to have the habit of seeing himself in a bad light. He never thought that he was a good Alpha because of his past mistakes and because being an Alpha was a really big responsibility and it was far from easy, that's why he was more than willing to let Hope decline the offer of becoming the Alpha because he knew the crushing weight of responsibility that came with it. But in the end, she accepted his offer and he couldn't help but feel really grateful for it. It meant that when he becomes a hybrid, he can start anew and discover who he really was without the status of the Alpha hovering over him. But, if the pack ended up experiencing trouble with accepting Hope as their new Alpha, he'd offer to lead the pack regardless if they'll accept him. Jed knew that Ben was right. It was about time for him to put himself first. While he wasn't the best at doing that, he will at least try to put himself first.
Jed figured that he'll learn whether the blood will taste the same to him once he was a hybrid or if it will have an underlying taste that will keep him wanting more. His attention drifted to his sister before his lips formed a soft 'o' as she explained that the blood actually tastes nice once he has completed the transition. "Well then, color me excited." Jed said with a grin on his lips. It really didn't long at all for Jed to crack jokes and of course, it didn't surprise Ben because he was used to it. He'd been the victim of all of Jed's burn jokes, along with some of their friends. He knew that he can't erase the fact that he has died that night in a traumatic way, but he knew that the least he could do was try to make the mood a little lighter because he didn't want them to feel like they had to walk on egg shells around him. "You're not wrong at all." Jed offered back with a soft chuckle falling from his lips not long after.
Jed almost opened his eyes to fully engage in the story that Ben was telling him but as promised, he kept his eyes closed, his arms still wrapped around Ben as he listened to him. "Wow. That's really weird to think about." Jed wondered just what else they had gotten wrong over time and the wrong view stuck around while the truth was just begging to be released to the world. Jed was quiet as he listened to Ben's story, his mind fully engaged in the story as he released soft hums to showcase that he was still listening. "That's beyond messed up, man. I really can't help but feel bad for Pandora. I can't imagine what she must've felt like to be betrayed from someone she considered a friend." Jed frowned slightly when he realized that he had been betrayed by someone she'd once considered a friend. She didn't deserve any of that. Now the whole world thinks of her as a monster who unleashed evil in the world. In a way, she reminded him of Ben and he soon let that slip out and when Ben asked him why he thought that way, he explained to him their similarities.
Jed felt a small smile form on his lips at Ben's words. He couldn't help but think that both Pandora and Ben had the best intentions in mind but something went terribly wrong and instead their good intentions were simply diminished and misunderstood. "That's awful," Jed replied when Ben told him about the fact that Ethan had died in battle. "I'm really sorry to hear that." Jed whispered with a soft sigh falling from his lips. "Though I hope it's not too much to say that I find it pretty badass that my fiancé was in the second World War. Sucks that I can't tell everyone that because I think they'll immediately imagine I'm dating a super old guy. The non-supernatural people would think that, at least." Jed said with a soft chuckle falling from his lips. "I can't help but think that it's such a coincidence that Gabriela and Adelina's dads are the ones you went to war with. I used to think that the world was such a big place, but now after hearing the story I can't help but feel like it's really small." Though when Ben told him that he had changed everything, his lips stretched into a soft smile. "You changed everything for me, too. In so many ways. Good ones, of course. I can't imagine what my life would've looked like without you." Jed admitted in a soft voice. Ben had changed so many things for him and through him, he discovered so much about himself. All those discoveries pushed him into becoming a whole new version of himself, a much better version.
Jed's expression softened at Ben's next words, his lips stretching into a small smile. He was on his own for a while after triggering his werewolf curse, he'd been scared but then Alaric found him and he wasn't the most grateful boy out there because instead of welcoming Alaric and Jenna's help, he shut them out instead, keeping to himself for a while but over time that changed and now he no longer felt that sinking feeling of loneliness. It was thanks to his family, friends, and of course, Ben who was considered a family member, a friend, and a fiancé. "Now I'm gonna be the one to hold you to that." Jed replied with a soft smile on his lips when Ben told him that he will never be alone again.
Jed released a soft sound of surprise at Ben's words. Oh boy, seems like Pandora's box wasn't the only legend they'd gotten wrong. Jed engaged in the conversation with soft noises every now and then, fully invested in the story that Ben was telling him before everything started to change. He'd almost forgotten all about why they were here today because he'd gotten so invested in everything that Ben was talking to him about. Jed felt his heartbeat slow down and then Ben's voice started growing muffled. It sounded like he was speaking to him from very far away and no matter how much he strained to hear him better, the voice only got further away as the rise and fall of his chest ceased. Soon enough, the voices around him were completely gone and from there it was pitch black, his surroundings swallowed by black until nothingness was all that he saw. His grip around Ben loosened entirely and soon enough, Jed was gone.
The realization that her boy was gone was what pushed Jenna into sobbing softly into her hand, unable to hold back her tears but she tried her best to muffle the sound of her cries. Hope felt her own tears fill her eyes but she blinked away, knowing that she needed to be strong for Josie and everyone else. She moved back to Josie's side, rubbing a comforting hand down her girlfriend's back. "No, don't worry about that, sweetheart. We'll... We'll manage. Let's... Let's stay strong, for him. He didn't want us to cry too m–much." Jenna managed to say between tears as she wiped her eyes to get rid of the tears. Jenna glanced at Jed one more time, feeling tears fill her eyes again before she turned her attention to her husband, offering him a comforting smile. "Let's wait downstairs. I can't..." Jenna wasn't sure she could stay in the room without crying her eyes out and she had promised Jed to at least try not to cry too much. "Let us know if you need anything, Ben." Hope said in a soft voice. "I know how heartbreaking and difficult this must be. But, please at least try to find comfort in knowing that he will be back soon. He's not gone for good. He'll be back before you know it." Hope knew that what Ben was experiencing was valid and she wasn't telling him to stop crying, but she instead wished to comfort him. "Do you want to wait downstairs? I'll stay if you want to stay here." Hope asked Josie, her eyes relaxing on her girlfriend once again, her expression was open and understanding.
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 Dec 8, 2022 22:55:09 GMT
Ben knew that Jed wasn’t the kind of guy who would do something like this without thinking it through properly first and he’d reassured Ben of that when he first brought it up. At first it had seemed far too good to be true, Ben had been on his own for such a long time and Jed had promised time and time again that he wasn’t going anywhere but Ben had always known that one day he would end up losing him to old age. It was something that had weighed on his mind right from the beginning but Ben had never thought that Jed would actually decide to go through with this. Becoming a hybrid meant that he was changing his whole life and Ben had never thought that Jed would want to do that. It made sense since the other members of the squad were immortal now, including Josie and Hope, but he had still never let himself hope that Jed might actually choose to go through with this. Ben had no idea how Jed would find things after he completed the transition but at the end of the day there were plenty of people around to support him and Ben knew that they would never give up on him. The fact that Jenna, Ric, Josie and Hope had all decided to be there for Jed that day was proof enough of that and Ben knew just how much that meant to Jed. Truth be told it meant a lot to Ben as well but right now the only person he could focus on was Jed. It always amazed Ben just how much Jed doubted himself at times but he really didn’t need to. He was the most amazing guy that Ben had ever met and he had a feeling that the others around them could see that too. Jed had put the needs of the pack before his own for such a long time but now it was time for him to do something for himself and Ben was proud of him for doing that. “Only you could be excited about what blood will taste like when you’re a hybrid,” Ben chuckled, a smile forming on his lips as Josie shook her head in amusement. Jed seemed to be taking all of this in his stride while the rest of them were all dreading what was going to happen and that was something that Ben hadn’t expected. He knew that he needed to stay strong for Jed and make this as easy for him as he could and that’s exactly what he was trying to do. It was easy to focus on anything other than what was to come and Ben was glad of the distraction. “Nope, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he grinned. He wasn’t sure if the others would feel the same but as long as Jed was happy then that really was all that mattered to Ben. Making jokes about things that others would find difficult to deal with if they were the one to go through them was how Jed seemed to cope with things and Ben really couldn’t blame him for that. It would be easy to get lost in the darkness after going through something traumatic but Jed seemed to always try to look on the bright side and the truth was that that optimism was something that was starting to rub off on Ben as well. After being on his own for so long he had forgotten what it was like to feel hopeful but Jed had reminded him of that and he knew that he would hold onto that for as long as he could. “It is,” he agreed as Jed said that it was really weird to think about. The world knew one version of the story but it wasn’t the true version. That had been lost to time a long time ago but Ben still remembered and now Jed, his parents, Josie and Hope all knew the truth as well so at least there were others out there now who did too. “She was devastated and understandably so. Others stood by her and we tried to get the real story out there but in the end those who were against her were louder and it was their version of events that the world listened to,” Ben shrugged. They had all done everything they could to stop that from happening at the time but it just wasn’t enough. “I’m not sure she ever truly trusted anyone again after that,” he added. It was a shame but the truth was that Ben couldn’t blame her. Now that Jed had mentioned it Ben knew that he and Pandora really were alike but nothing could change what either of them had been through so he knew better than to dwell on it too much. “It is,” he agreed as Jed said that it was awful that Ethan had died in battle. “I’ve never seen Toni look so heartbroken. He was our superior officer so we all looked up to him but something in him broke that day. I always thought there was something going on between them but Ethan died before they were able to figure it out,” Ben explained. It was a completely different time back then, though, and even though Ben had come to terms with his sexuality a long time before it wasn’t like that for everyone. Being attracted to someone of the same gender was seen as a terrible thing back then so he wasn’t sure how things would have worked out for them even if they had had the chance to figure out what was going on between them at the time. “It wasn’t glamorous or anything like that but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time,” he shrugged, just the word fiancé making his cheeks flush red which thankfully Jed wouldn’t be able to see. As Jed said everyone would assume that he was dating a super old guy, Ben couldn’t help but laugh. “They’d be right, I am a super old guy,” he chuckled. He might not look it but he certainly felt it at times. “I did too but one thing I’m starting to realise is that we always find the people we’re meant to have in our lives eventually,” Ben admitted. His life had eventually brought him to Jed, the Saltzmans and the squad and Ben knew that he would never take that for granted. Jed’s next words were enough to have Ben’s expression softening. “You’ll never have to find out because I’m not going anywhere,” Ben assured him, knowing that Jed really was stuck with him now. As Jed said that he was going to hold him to what he’d said, Ben’s smile returned. “Please do,” he grinned. He knew that he wasn’t going to let Jed experience that crushing sense of loneliness again and he was more than happy to have Jed hold him to his word. It was easy to almost forget what was about to happen as Jed asked for another story that was wrong and Ben was more than happy to oblige. He could tell just how interested Jed was in it and it seemed like the perfect distraction to keep Jed’s mind off what was going to happen. As time went on Jed’s breathing stopped and his grip loosened and Ben knew in that moment that his fiancé was gone. Ben had known that it was going to happen but it still didn’t make things any easier and now he knew how Jed must have felt when they were testing the bracelet that Hope and Josie had made for him. Jed had grieved him even though he had known that he was going to come back and now Ben was doing exactly the same thing. Ben could hear muffled sobs in the background but the truth was that he just couldn’t bring himself to focus on the others in the room, all he could focus on was Jed and tears rolled freely down his face as he held Jed to him tightly. Ric pulled Jenna into his arms as he cried as well while Josie wrapped her arms around Hope, glad that her girlfriend was there. Jed wasn’t related to any of them by blood but he was their family and he always would be. “You’re right, he didn’t,” Ben agreed as Jenna said that Jed didn’t want them to cry too much. That didn’t make it any easier to stop, though, and he had a feeling that she was finding the same problem. “Come on, let’s go,” Ric said, taking Jenna’s hand in his and getting to his feet. Offering the girls a reassuring smile, Ric gave them each a gentle hug and squeezed Ben’s shoulder gently. “You know where we are if you need anything,” he said, causing Ben to nod before Ric led the way downstairs. That left just Josie and Hope in the room with them and Ben nodded as Hope said to let them know if he needed anything. “I will, thanks,” he nodded although he knew that all he needed was for Jed to come back to them. “I know he’s not. This will all be worth it when he wakes up,” he said gently as Hope said that Jed wasn’t gone for good. “I didn’t get the chance to say this earlier but thank you for giving Jed the chance to have the future he wants,” he added as his eyes met Hope’s, knowing that it really did mean the world to him. All he wanted was for Jed to be happy and this was what Jed wanted so Ben was glad that Hope had decided to go along with it. As Hope asked if she wanted to wait downstairs, Josie’s expression turned thoughtful for a moment s she wiped away her tears. “I’m not sure. Jed didn’t want Ben to be alone but some space might be what Ben needs. I’m also worried about mom and dad,” Josie admitted, her voice soft as she spoke. “Don’t worry about me, I’m going to stay with Jed until he wakes up. You should go and check on your parents,” Ben said, knowing that they could probably use having the girls around much more than he could right now. “It’s okay, really,” he added and that had Josie nodding. “Let’s go check on mom and dad,” she said, taking Hope’s hand in hers and leading the way downstairs, leaving Ben and Jed alone. 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 Dec 8, 2022 23:54:30 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed chuckled at Ben's words before he shrugged his shoulders, keeping his expression innocent. Truth be told, blood tasted – terrible for a normal wolf, so he was excited to know what it tasted like for a vampire. Each time he saw a vampire feed at school, they didn't seem disgusted. If anything, they seemed to enjoy what they were drinking and it definitely piqued his curiosity. But first, he'd have to do the hard thing where he'd have to leave his family behind for a while before he could come back fully in transition with the only step left being to drink blood to complete his transition. "Now that's what I like to hear. I'll have to think 'bout hybrid puns later." Jed said with yet another chuckle falling from his lips not long after.
Jed was pretty surprised to hear that everything he'd known about Pandora's box was all wrong. "Man, they sound like such douche-bags. She didn't deserve any of that." Instead of thanking her for trying her best to rid the world of evil, she was stabbed in the back instead. The world could be an unfair place sometimes and Pandora's story was a prime example for that as the bad guys effortlessly won in the end which left Jed feeling a little sad for her even though he had never seen Pandora before. Now that he knows the full story, he won't think that she was the one responsible for releasing evil into the world anymore. "I honestly don't blame her for that." Jed replied when Ben revealed that he wasn't sure if Pandora had trusted anyone after that. There was nothing worse than broken trust. You simply stop trusting others and from there, it almost feels like the entire world is against you. He wondered if that was what Pandora had felt. It sounded so unbearably sad.
"Now that's really sad." Jed frowned. It sounded like time wasn't kind to them nor were the circumstances. But he figured now that they were Adelina and Gabriela's dads they had finally discovered their feelings together, so at least the story had a happy ending, eventually. "Oh no, no, I beg to differ. It's a pretty honorable thing to fight in the war. It must have been really difficult back then, but I'm just really glad that you survived." Jed understood that what Ben had seen back then must have been traumatic for him so he avoided making any jokes or anything like that, he didn't want to showcase that he took the matter lightly when he felt the exact opposite. He was proud of Ben. "Okay, but do you look old? You're super hot. Plus, who knows, maybe I'm into the fact that you're super old." Jed said with a half-smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he remained in Ben's embrace, feeling comforted and safe. Jed nodded his head in agreement with Ben, his lips stretching into a soft smile. "I like that." His life had brought him to Ben and before Ben, it had brought him to the Saltzman family. Maybe he was destined to find them, after all. Destined to be in their lives and for them to be in his life. "Okay good, because I really like the ring and I don't wanna give it back." Jed joked with a soft chuckle falling from his lips not long after.
He really liked talking to Ben like this. It made him feel like today was just like any other day. It made him feel a lot less nervous about the whole dying thing. If anything, it made him completely forget about why they were all here in their bedroom. He was fully invested in Ben's stories and Jed knew it was because of Ben that he didn't feel scared when he realized that he was losing his grip on life entirely. He felt safe even as he closed his eyes and let out his last breath.
Jenna wanted to stay but the longer she looked at Jed, the more she lost control over her tears. She needed a few moments to compose herself because she didn't want to break her promise to Jed. Plus, she knew that leaving Ben on his own like that probably won't do the boy any good because she knew it must be really hard for him to see Jed like that, too. Jenna hugged her girls and rubbed Ben's back before she made her way downstairs with Ric to compose herself with a cup of water which left Hope and Josie in the bedroom with Ben and Jed.
Hope nodded her head in agreement with Ben, her lips stretching into a small but comforting smile. "You don't need to thank me. To be honest, I'm just glad that one of us decided to turn on their own terms." Hope said with a nod of her head following. "Plus, I could tell that it was what Jed really wanted and I would never stand in his way." Hope added a moment later. Even though she was hesitant at first to take the status of an Alpha, she relented in the end. Hope's attention drifted to her girlfriend, nodding her head in an understanding manner. She, too, didn't feel like they should leave Ben alone with Jed like this. Though she knew that they should also check on Jenna and Alaric. Hope's attention drifted to Ben when he encouraged them to go check on Jenna and Alaric, assuring them that it was okay. "We'll come back." Hope promised with a nod of her head following. She looked back at Josie before smiling a little as she nodded again. "Of course." Hope glanced over her shoulder one last time before she left with Josie, their hands clasped together. "Are you doing okay?" Hope asked Josie first, stopping before they could reach the stairs, figuring that it would be a good thing to check on how Josie was doing first. "Do you need a moment to process everything? You're not burying your feelings for the sake of everyone, are you?"
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 Dec 9, 2022 23:00:10 GMT
The innocent expression on Jed’s face was enough to make Ben smile. He knew that there were a lot of things that were about to change for Jed and he honestly hoped that Jed would end up liking those changes since the last thing Ben wanted was for him to end up regretting his decision to become a hybrid. This was their chance to have a proper future together without having to worry about Jed growing older while Ben remained the same and even though Ben wasn’t happy about Jed having to die in order to make it happen, that future was still something to look forward to. He had no idea what it was like to be a vampire but Josie seemed to be adapting well and he honestly hoped that Jed would as well. “You’d better make them good ones otherwise you know MG will have something to say about it,” Ben teased, his expression amused as he looked over at Jed. “You’re right, she didn’t,” Ben agreed. He knew that Pandora had deserved so much better and he had tried to help those around him see the truth but in the end it just wasn’t enough. People were always so quick to believe the worst in others and once they had their minds set on something it wasn’t often easy to get them to change them either. “Neither do I. She still lived a good life but she spent such a long time trying to set right the wrongs that had been done to her and she never managed it,” he sighed. It was a shame really but there wasn’t anything that he could do to change it now. The past was the past but now more people knew her story and Ben knew that the true version of events would continue to live on in them. He wasn’t sure if anyone else alive today remembered the real story about what had happened but he did and Ben was glad that Jed, his family and Hope now did too. As Jed said that what had happened to Ethan and Toni was bad, Ben rubbed his back gently. “It is but they got their happy ending in the end,” he said gently. It still seemed a little surreal to know that they were both in Mystic Falls but the truth was that Ben was glad they were there. He loved the friends he had made in Mystic Falls but Toni and Ethan had always been special to him so it was good to know that they were in town too. “It was but you know the nature of my curse, I would have made it through regardless,” Ben shrugged, not even sparing a thought about the toll it had taken on him mentally because that just wasn’t how he was raised. His curse was designed to make sure that he experienced as much pain and suffering as possible and even fighting in the war hadn’t stopped the monsters from finding him. He’d been able to disguise their attacks and make sure that no one became suspicious but things were so hectic back then and Ben knew that if things had been different then he wouldn’t have managed it. As Jed spoke again, Ben couldn’t help but laugh. “I guess I’ll take being a super hot old guy,” he chuckled, his cheeks flushing red the same way they always did whenever Jed complimented him like that. It wasn’t something that he was used to but he couldn’t deny that he liked it. Ben felt a smile touch his lips as Jed said he liked what he’d said about finding the people you were meant to eventually. It really was how Ben felt and he hoped that Jed did too. “You won’t have to, it’s yours and we’re going to get to spend the rest of our lives together,” Ben said gently even though he knew that Jed was only joking about giving the ring back in the first place. Jed had kept his word and kept his eyes closed throughout and Ben was glad that he had decided to do the same because he knew that he would have lost it if he had seen Hope approaching and that wasn’t what Jed had needed. He’d needed him to stay calm and be strong for him and it was only after he’d taken his last breath that Jed broke down and let the pain consume him as he held Jed in his arms. He couldn’t blame Jenna and Ric for wanting to get out of there, they had just seen their son die and Ben knew that that couldn’t have been easy for them. They loved Jed just like he did and he had seen just how upset Jenna was so he knew that some time away would do them some good. “I’m glad Jed had the chance too, I just wish the two of you could have made the same decision,” Ben admitted gently as he looked over at Hope. “The fact that you decided to take Jed’s place as Alpha means more to him than you’ll ever know. He has been an Alpha since the day he triggered his curse and now you’re giving him the chance to start over and figure out who he is without that,” he added. Ben could definitely understand why Jed had wanted to have that chance and he knew that the pack really was in safe hands with Hope. “Take your time, I’ll be here,” Ben nodded as Hope said that they would be back. There was a part of him that wanted to check and see how Jenna and Ric were doing himself but a bigger part of him knew that he couldn’t leave Jed, not now. It would be some time before he woke up but Ben was determined to be there for him whenever it happened and until then he would stay with Jed and make sure that he wasn’t alone. Truth be told Josie was glad to get out of there for a minute as she and Hope headed out onto the landing. It was much more intense than she had ever expected it to be and she couldn’t help but think back to the day that she and Hope had died. As Hope asked if she was doing okay, Josie let out a sigh. “I think so,” she nodded as she wiped her eyes before turning to face Hope. “I’m not burying my feelings, everything is heightened now so I’m not sure I could at the moment even if I tried,” she admitted. “I keep thinking back to what happened the day we died. Seeing Ben break down like that, it made me think about what it must have been like for you to realise I’d died,” she said, fresh tears forming in her eyes which she quickly blinked away. “I’m so sorry you went through that Hope.”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 Dec 9, 2022 23:47:34 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed's lips stretched into a grin and honestly, Ben didn't even have to worry about that because he was definitely going to come up with something good because he missed teasing the hell out of MG. After all, the impact of his burn jokes lessened and of course, he didn't like tha.t So with him becoming a hybrid, he would have plenty of room to torture him some more with his jokes. Jed was quiet as he listened to Ben. They both easily agreed on the fact that Pandora never deserved the betrayal and to have her name forever in bad light, always considered to be a bad person when all she wanted was to protect people. He nodded his head as he listened to Ben, feeling at least grateful that Pandora had lived a good life still. That was at least a good thing despite all the pain that she must have experienced at the hands of someone she once considered to be close. He couldn't imagine what that betrayal must have felt like.
Jed was really glad that Adelina and Gabriela's dads had gotten their happy ending in the end. It made things seem a lot brighter and a lot less sad because honestly Jed couldn't afford to cry right now. He was just happy that things worked in the end despite the rocky and painful start. "That's great." Jed replied with a gentle smile tugging at his lips. He released a small hum at Ben's words before he nodded his head. Ben was right. With the nature of his curse, he would have survived the war regardless. Jed chuckled at Ben's words and if his eyes were open, he would have rolled his eyes when he said that he will settle for being a super hot old guy. He could just imagine the flush of Ben's cheeks because he never failed to turn red whenever Jed complimented him and it always made him chuckle fondly because he found the blush to be cute, endearingly so. "Good." Jed replied with a grin on his lips. Not long after, Ben was reassuring him that the ring was his and that they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. "I really like the sound of that." Jed offered with a gentle smile on his lips. From there it was peaceful and Jed was grateful that as he let out his last breath, he never felt any fear. From afar, Jed looked like he was sleeping but everyone present in the room knew otherwise and Jenna couldn't keep looking at her boy without crying. She knew she needed a moment to gather herself and then she'd come back. She excused herself along with Ric, the girls staying behind for a moment.
"Me too, Ben." Hope offered when Ben told her that he wished they could have made the same decision as Jed. Hope's lips stretched into a small smile at Ben's words, her eyes momentarily resting on Jed before looking back at Ben. "I'm glad that I could help. He deserves the chance to figure who he is without his Alpha status." Hope said with a gentleness to her voice. She excused herself not long after, making a promise to come back in a bit. They'd just need to check on Ric and Jenna first. Though Hope figured that she should check on her girlfriend first because Hope knew that Josie had a tendency to put others first and simply shelf her own feelings. Hope wasn't going to let her do that. Hope was quiet as he listened to Josie, nodding her head to show that she was listening to her. Hope's heart clenched at Josie's words, those words brought her back to the moment that she realized that Josie was all gone. "I — I know it would be very hypocritical of me to encourage you not to bottle your feelings while I do just that. I won't lie, seeing you die was — it was really painful. But you don't have anything to apologize for. I'm just really glad that you're here now. That's all that matters." Hope lifted her hand to let it rest gently on Josie's cheek, sending her a small encouraging smile. "Come here." Hope removed her hand and instead wrapped her arms around her girlfriend to bring her in for a hug, rubbing her back gently in a reassuring manner. "I'm okay now because you're here." Hope reassured her in a soft voice. "It's going to be okay. Jed's going to be okay, too." Hope continued, still rubbing her girlfriend's back.
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 Dec 10, 2022 0:28:31 GMT
Ben knew that things were going to change once Jed completed his transition and became a hybrid but he also knew that that wasn’t a bad thing. They would have had a future together regardless but this way they would get to have the rest of their lives to be together rather than just the rest of Jed’s mortal lifetime. He didn’t doubt that Jed was going to find a way to torment them all with jokes again the same way he had done after he’d died the first time but that was just the way Jed was and Ben knew to embrace it rather than to try and change it. Jed was already so much more than he ever gave himself credit for and Ben wasn’t afraid to remind him of just how amazing he was whenever he seemed to doubt that. Ben had seen a lot of awful things over the years and he knew just how easy it would have been for Jed to become like his father after everything that he had been through but he hadn’t done, he had found a way to rise above everything that had been done to him and Ben admired him for that. Things didn’t always go the way any of them planned but all they could do was try and make the best of it and Jed was definitely good at doing that. “It is,” he agreed as Jed said it was great that Toni and Ethan had found each other again. The chances of that happening after such a long time should have been so small but their paths had crossed in Mystic Falls and Ben knew that they hadn’t looked back since, just like he hadn’t since he met Jed. Ben didn’t doubt that Jed knew he was blushing right now after the compliment Jed had paid them, Ben wasn’t used to receiving them at all so it always took him by surprise whenever Jed paid him one but he often returned the favour. Right now it was so easy to joke around with Jed like this and forget what was going to happen and Ben found himself just enjoying spending time with Jed. He had all but forgotten that there were others in the room, his sole focus was on his fiancé and he knew that that was as it should be. “So do I. You’re the person I never thought I’d find and I’m not going to let you go,” Ben assured him. He had been on his own for such a long time that he knew he wasn’t going to something foolish like that. He was looking forward to building a life with Jed and nothing was ever going to change that. Unfortunately before that could happen Jed had to die and even though Ben knew that it was coming it still broke his heart to know that Jed was gone, even if it was only temporary. It wasn’t long before Ben was left alone with Hope and Josie and his expression softened when Hope said she wished she and Josie could have made the same decision that Jed had done. It should have been their decision to make but Ben’s father had taken that away from them and Ben knew that he was never going to forgive the angel for that. “He does. I know Jed won’t take it for granted and he really did think long and hard before asking you to take his place. He thinks really highly of you, we both do. You’re going to make a great Alpha,” he said, offering Hope a smile before watching her and Josie head out of the room to go and check on Jenna and Ric. Josie wasn’t surprised when Hope decided to check on her first. She knew that her girlfriend always worried about her but right now Josie couldn’t help but be reminded of the awful day that Ben’s father had attacked them and taken their lives. “You’re getting better at not bottling up your feelings, I think we’re helping each other with that,” Josie said, offering her girlfriend a reassuring smile as their eyes met. As Hope’s hand came to rest against her cheek, Josie leaned into the touch. “Seeing how much Ben is hurting right now I hate the idea of you going through the same thing,” Josie said gently, not offering any resistance as Hope wrapped her arms around her. Instead Josie wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly. “I’m not going anywhere,” she assured Hope, knowing that she would do everything in her power to make sure that they were able to stay together. “I know it will all work out in the end and I really am glad that Jed will get to stay with Ben and with all of us,” she admitted, glad that he was one member of the family that she wasn’t going to have to worry about losing one day. “I’m so grateful that you’re here, Hope. I love you so much,” she said as she turned her head and kissed her girlfriend’s cheek gently. 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 Dec 10, 2022 0:59:22 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed was really grateful that the story of Gabriela and Adelina's dads had a good ending. It seemed to lift the sadness he was feeling off his chest. It seemed like the world could really be kind to people at times and from what Ben had told him, they seemed to have suffered enough. He felt a gentle smile form on his lips form on his lips at Ben's words before he tightened his arms around his boyfriend. He felt the exact same way too. "I'll never let go of you either." Jed promised with a gentle smile on his lips. Now that Ben was in his life, he didn't want to ever let go of him. They had spent long enough without each other to know that they should cherish what they have and hold onto it tightly. Jed held onto Ben until he could no longer keep his arms wrapped around his fiancé. His voice was the last thing that Jed heard before he was pulled under, leaving behind a devastated family.
Hope knew that right now, she needed to be strong for everyone else. They were going through a lot of pain just from seeing Jed dead even though all of them knew all too well that Jed wasn't gone for good. It still didn't make it easy to process the fact that Jed was dead. Hope knew that Jed didn't make the decision to turn into a hybrid on a whim and knew that he'd really thought about it thoroughly, it was one of the many reasons why she had ended up saying yes in the end. "Thank you. That means a lot to me. I think highly of you and Jed as well. I have big shoes to fill, but I'll try." Jed was a great Alpha even though he really didn't think of himself as a good one. She could tell that the pack trusted him and depended on him and not to mention, in the pack was someone that Jed had turned, so she couldn't help but wonder whether they would easily accept the change in leadership or if they will put up a struggle. She knew there was really only one way to find out. Hope knew that the transfer of Alpha status was pretty much done. She was an Alpha now. It was weird to think of herself as such but she knew she was just gonna have to get used to it quickly. Soon enough, she was alone with Josie as she checked on how her girlfriend was doing. A small smile formed on her lips at Josie's words. "Making pretty good progress." She wasn't just referring to herself but also referring to Josie as her smile remained on her lips. Hope released a soft sigh, remembering how she had cried when she came to the realization that Josie was gone. The pain she had felt that night was indescribable and it would break her to go through something like that again. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere either." Hope said as she kept her arms wrapped around her girlfriend. "Same here." Hope agreed with Josie. Nearly all squad members were immortals, so it felt good to know that Jed was going to be stay by their side too. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be. I love you too, Jo. So much." Hope smiled gently at the feeling of Josie's lips against her cheek, leaving a gentle kiss there. The gesture made her heartbeat flutter.
She remained in Josie's embrace for a few long moments before she gently drew back with a comforting smile resting on her lips. "Let's check on your mom and dad, yeah?" Hope leaned forward to return the kiss by leaving one on Josie's cheek too before she drew back, her hand finding Josie's as she began heading toward Jenna and Alaric.
"Hi," Hope greeted softly. "It was a lot in there, wasn't it?" Hope's expression turned sympathetic as she approached Josie's parents to sit with them, Josie's hand still clasped in her own. "I know it's a dumb question, all things considered, but are you guys okay?" Hope questioned, her eyes relaxing on Josie and Jed's parents.
"Hey, sweethearts." Jenna greeted, her eyes were a bit puffy and red but she wasn't crying as hard anymore. "No, sweetheart, it's not a dumb question. I'm ..." Jenna took in a deep breath. "I'm doing a little better now." Jenna revealed a moment later with a nod of her head following, Hope's lips stretched into a small smile, glad to hear that Jenna was feeling better. "I'll go up and stay with Ben in a bit. I just need to calm down first. I don't want Jed to know that I've been crying so much when he wakes up." Jenna said with a small sad smile on her lips as she reached her hand up to wipe her tears away quickly before lowering her hand again, her other hand holding onto Ric's, finding comfort in the touch.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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