if i stumble

Caroline McReid HunterVampire Legacy "i'm not anything anymore."

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

MCREIDS MCREIDS MCREIDS

[scott-smith-hih]

"Fine," Scott attempted to interrupt her as he realised then that he didn't need Carrie to justify her being here. He resented that he'd asked, and her tears made sure that the feeling stung. "That's fine. Stay as long as you like." He hesitated in the unknown and unfamiliar before tentatively settling down next to her. He would stay here as long as she liked.

"It was a trap," and Scott had played his part in it so well, so unwittingly. Sitting here in the dark, watching his desk be the centrepiece of his office, if not his entire life after the dome, he felt his blood build back up to a rolling boil. He saw himself sit there during days and nights spent pouring over reports and plans for this godforsaken mission. She'd been right there, both of them counting down the minutes 'till go. She was going to go on a vacation. A family vacation. Edward might have taken that from her, but the whole Institute were to blame. Himself included. "I'm just... so fucking angry, Carrie," he gritted his teeth, "and so fucking sorry."

Her shaking voice carried such heavy burdens, and her eyes pleaded for something Scott didn't know how to give. It wasn't his role to be a support. He wrapped his arm around her nonetheless. It felt like lead, and his hand stung against her shirt. He wanted her to go on that vacation. "He's an arse," he said, finally, because that much was still true of Alex. There was a barrage of things he could say about that fool's choices, but it was hard to argue that he himself wasn't relieved or thankful to have her back in this moment. "I wouldn't expect you to be okay. Just sit here. Be whatever you need to be."

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

Carrie nodded at him, understanding all too perfectly the crushing feeling of hopelessness that came with sorrow and rage. She wanted to say it wasn't his fault, but the words never made it past her lips. This mission had been divisive from the start. Carrie had believed in it, though. She had believed in Karen. The memory of her lying on the ground, thrown down like some rag doll, flashed before her eyes and cause her chest to heave. "I know," she whispered, letting him wrap his arm around her. The feeling was strange and unexpected, but not unwelcome. A watery laugh left her lips without an ounce of humour behind it when he called Alex an arse. It almost let her pretend that everything was normal, that nothing bad had happened. She was still Carrie McReid and it was going to be okay.

But none of that was true anymore.

She moved without thinking, burying her face in Scott's neck and clinging to him like he might be able to save her. There was a feeling of comfort that threatened to take her over when he held her however awkwardly. She was the one who had intruded here, on his whole life even, but she couldn't help it. She wanted to be held. There was such a storm of emotion raging in her chest that she hadn't noticed right away his mistake. The blood on her shirt. His blood. "What am I gonna do, Scott?" she mumbled it into his neck, her unbearable sadness slowly being outrun by an unbearable hunger. And his blood... His heartbeat... His pulse underneath her lips...

[scott-smith-hih]

Scott did not feel any remorse for his actions despite Carrie's theatrics. "That's bribery. I damn well will write you up." He attempted to return her smile with one of his own but to his surprise he was already fashioning one. He quickly realised she was going to age him with laugh lines and crow's feet before he'd have a chance to object, and while he wasn't that vain it was simply an observation, because he would never be able to return the favour. She'd look just as she looked now, forever. It didn't bother him. It didn't bother him half as much as being called 'cute'.

"Excuse me?" He huffed, almost as dramatically as she had gasped. "Nothing I have ever done has been cute." It did bother him to be characterised as cute, he thought, but in a shock to his system it actually really didn't when coming from her. Still, he wasn't going to admit to that. Instead, he steeped his tea with fervour upon her honesty, almost with genuine concern for its wellbeing. "At least you came with backup," he muttered, surrendering the tea to brew on its own accord while he tried his best to not accelerate his laugh lines any further. This was going to be hard work, he could tell.

Procuring two glasses from a desk drawer, he poured them both expert measures. "Cheers," he held up his glass to toast, "to barely being alive." He downed it in one to quickly refill the second which could then be savoured slowly. "You're doing well with your wining and dining. It's working." He smiled, again. This was going to be really hard work.

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

Carrie loved that smile. She had only ever wanted Scott to be happy, to have everything he ever wanted even if he insisted that list did not exist. Now she was the reason for both his smile and happiness, she couldn't help feeling a content warmth in her chest. She worried still, of course. Tomorrow all their problems would come crashing back over them. Keeping him alive, not just happy, would be her priority again. But now, in the wee hours, she could forget about that. Here, she could giggle shamelessly at his dramatic huffs. "Oh, yeah? Are you gonna write me up for that one too?" she teased. "Don't worry, your reputation is perfectly safe in my hands. I'm not going to put your cuteness in any reports."

She watched him pour the scotch, hiding a smile behind her glass as he downed the first one. "To barely being alive," she repeated with a small smile. They'd made do with that so far, why not keep it going? She might have been undead and he might have been stitched back together, but inside her heart was alight. She felt alive, more than ever. "Why thank you, I do love when a devious plan comes together," she smirked, sure she'd be blushing in another life. She took a little sip of her drink, setting the glass down between them.

"Are you happy to be back?" At work, sure. Here, together, more so.

[miss-molly-v]

"That makes me feel marginally like the raging bitch I know I was and do continue to be. I do have a slight reputation to uphold." At Carrie's "old boy," Molly couldn't help but lean forward a little. "Oh boy is right. Wow, Carrie. I mean, I'm sorry. That fucking sucks, obviously." What was a kind way to ask someone to spill the tea about their break up? "Do you want to talk about it?"

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

"And don't think we've forgotten it," she joked. Molly was a missing piece underground, one that they all desperately missed. Carrie wouldn't push them, though. She knew better than anyone how damaging it was for a bloodline hunter to become a vampire. To be turned. She was just happy to see them. "Ha... Yeah, it does. It does fucking suck." Carrie considered their question, looking down at her feet before answering. "I, uh, I broke up with him."

[robbie-wilson-hih]

"No doubt," Robbie agreed as they shared in the deliciousness of cheese crackers, and equally almost choking on her reply. "Scott??" He'd nearly forgotten about that whole crazed lapse of judgement, and now he was The other half? Insane. "You're insane," he said, wanting to make that clear as day. Robbie suddenly remembered writing in his last report to Scott 'to be here or be square', and tutted loudly at his apparent excuse. "Typical. He pisses off everyone, Carrie. What's he done now?" He chewed on another cracker, debating whether or not to delve deeper into this topic that undeniably needed to be studied by professional psychiatrists; "and what did you tell Alex?"

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

Carrie wasn't shocked by Robbie's response, he'd already made his feelings perfectly clear before she'd broken up with Alex. She wasn't going to try to explain - there weren't enough hours in the day, truly - and instead tried not to roll her eyes. "Your concerns have been noted and will be brought up at our next meeting." She shook her head, giving him a playful shove. "He helped capture and remove Vivian Vandeviere, remember? Pretty big deal. She was supposed to be locked up forever-," actually, she was supposed to be dead but Carrie didn't want to say it- "But things don't always go to plan." She pressed her lips together at his question, feeling a twinge in her chest at Alex's name. "About what?"

[charlotte-the-confused]

What sort of trouble was she in. Hallie didn't even know where to begin with that. It was truly a saga, a real story for the ages, but she didn't want to bore Krys with all of that. Plus, there wasn't really time to get into it. "I just...Well, yeah I'm alive. Big surprise, huh? And gate crashing this party too!" That was not a real answer, and Hallie knew it.

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

It was hard to bullshit a bullshitter. Krystal had seen more of herself in Hallie Matthews than she'd like to admit. There weren't a lot of things that Krystal took seriously but her mother's legacy was one of them, more or less. Havensdale was a safe place. "Yeah, I wish I'd brought a cake and balloons. This party is boring, Hallie. You're only doing what you can to save it - coming back from the rumoured dead is a pretty good party trick." She paused them, looking her over and shaking her head almost imperceptibly. "You can stay if you want. You can stay with me and Karen."

[miss-molly-v]

"Sorry, did you say tartlets? Now, what flavor would they be? Because if they have goat cheese, I'm interested. More because I love some goat cheese, but...Anyways, she might be there. You know Lee, takes nutrition very seriously." Samuel rolled his eyes at the big head comment. "I'll take that as you complimenting me on having a massive brain, thanks."

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

"Goat cheese and caramalised onion... it's pretty wild in here, Samuel, if you haven't noticed. Don't worry, I won't be offended if you end up ditching me for the finger food. Totally. Oh, yeah. You've got the biggest brain in town, don't you worry. In fact, I doubt the town will ever recover from basking in your brain's presence tonight-," she grinned, teasing as ever- "You're practically glowing."

[mystic-meghan]

Lacy laughed at Krystal, knowing that she meant it. "You beat me to it, I'm definitely going for Joseph Salvatore, and if I have time, Logan Durante." It wouldn't be the first time they had caused a scene at a Havensdale's party together. "Not with this group of boring people. They are so lucky we are here."

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

"Oh! The three shitheads, perfect choices," she grinned devilishly. This town was so freaking small sometimes, you couldn't help knowing everyone else's business. And how to handle them. "I think we could kick pretty much anyone's ass in here, for the records. Oh my god, tell me about it. If Felicity Montgomery used to be fun, she's a total pod-person now."

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

besties, i'll be on soon!!!

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

amyyyyyy! <3 @little-leila-lexington

[beallright]

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

tragically, i must sleep but i will be back!!!!

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

HENDERSONNNNNNN

[mystic-meghan]

"Can't give it up too easily. Now can I?" She winked at her bestie. "You never know with this group, might need to kick some ass. I am happy for the break. I love them, but God, I need a night out. We need to find Chuck and Andy and do some shots."

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

"So true," Krys chuckled, winking right back at her. There were people in this very room who would have died from receiving such a sexy gesture from the Lacy Morrison, you know? Krys was lucky to be standing. "Dibs'ing Charles Harvelle for the first kick to the teeth, then. I totally understand. Yes! The funnest people in the room need to stick together or we're not gonna make it."

[scott-smith-hih]

If it hadn't been for the absolutely uncalled for tokens of sympathy some of his colleagues and acquaintances had left behind in his office one might think Scott had never left. The familiar stacks of papers were there, waiting to be analysed and filed. The dim blue light of his monitors was not really doing much for his complexion but when had they ever? The buzzing of his hard-working computer was a welcome reprieve from that constant fucking beeping in med bay. This was his sanctuary, and yet, he was not at ease.

Something was missing, Carrie was missing, and even though he knew she would be there at any moment now, it was never going to be the same. Not in a bad way, necessarily, just not the same. It stung at his stomach - normal people might call them butterflies, but to Scott they were bees, and he was fucking allergic. A whispered "shit" left him as the door knocked.

He shifted uncomfortably in his chair as Carrie entered, and Two Face perfectly captured their shared feeling of apprehensive but somewhat contained excitement. That feeling wasn't new - he'd born that cross for the better half of a year now. He'd prepared a deep breath to respond to her 'hi' with a simple 'hello' but as she pointed out the card he immediately exerted all that energy on knocking it into the bin where it belonged, and providing space for her. "Is that scotch? Are you trying to wine and dine me, McReid?"

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

Carrie let out a dramatic gasp as he knocked the giant card into the trash, shaking her head and fighting off a smile. "Guilty as charged, Smith. You'll have to write me up," she added with a grin before setting down the goods. She lingered a moment, watching him with a small smile. It was just nice to see him back home, you know? "But first-," she started, leaning closer to him before quickly turning away, "Belly scratches." Two-Face was already on her back, ready and waiting. Carrie gave Two-Face a lifetime of scratches first, patting her head to finish off.

"You're so cute," she whispered, letting out a little laugh before turning back to Scott. "You're pretty cute, too." Carrie made her way over, hopping up onto the space the 'get well soon' card had been occupying with ease. "Full disclosure, you might want to let the tea brew for, um, a while longer. There are some concerns about the tea bag to water ratio. Hence, the scotch." Plus, her ploy to wine and dine. Carrie was trying her best not to move too fast. She was also doing her best not to be overly worried about him.

"Do you have glasses? For the scotch."

[miss-molly-v]

If anyone understood the hell that Molly was living in (had lived in) it would be Carrie McReid. Molly should have reached out to her sooner. God, hindsight was a bitch, wasn't it. "No, it's not your fault. I wasn't exactly in a social mood, was I?" Now, that was an understatement. "Yeah? Any highlights? Any hot goss I should know about?" Acting like it was just a normal conversation, it almost made Molly feel better.

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

"You were beyond justified for that, Molly." Carrie held her gaze, eyes full of concern and regret, and an unspoken understanding. She let out an unexpected laugh at Molly's question. "Oh, boy. Well... you know there's never a dull day down there. Or one where anyone minds their own business." Carrie paused then, deciding if she was going to say it or not. It would definitely act as a distraction. "Me and Alex broke up."

[robbie-wilson-hih]

Carrie appeared looking healthy, and well, and alive, and as Robbie had become accustomed to in recent times, a heavy sigh of relief left him. It was hard to forget that at one point she'd been none of those things all at once, and it had cultivated an unsettling fear in him that exactly that could somehow happen again. Worry was an unbecoming colour on him but he would wear anything for his favourite. She was here. All was well, and it was his birthday. "Thank you, I can't imagine what Sal would do on a day like this without my ass being born on it." He offered her a cheese cracker before absentmindedly asking, "where's your other half?"

[cmcreid-warriorprincess]

"Oh, he'd have to close down for the day. He might even have to close down forever without something to look forward to every year," she grinned, taking the cheese cracker and promptly stuffing it in her mouth. It was a good thing she did too since his next question almost made her choke. Robbie had said it so casually, just like he always did. Well, like he did when he meant Alex. Carrie chewed much longer than usual as she decided on her answer. Maybe she should try it out, right? See what it sounded like out loud. "Um... he's currently on house arrest. Pissed off the wrong murderous she-vamp, you know?"