Corey Andrews

[itscharvi]

it was about time that charvi returned to the land of the living - somewhat living for her circumstance. she had spent long enough taking some time away from the drama, but even she couldn't ignore the rumblings anymore. if charvi wasn't awake, the earthquake had more that made sure of it. venturing out, she went for a walk to witness the damage, turning when she heard approaching footsteps.

@havensdalestarters

[corey-andrews-hih]

"Charvi." Corey had been plagued by ghosts of his own making, but since Ruby's return they had all disappeared. He was therefore confident that Charvi was real. Present, in front of him. It still felt like a sighting, however, when decades had passed since he'd last seen them, and he was different then - lost. Charvi had done so much to help him. He smiled at the recollection, almost chuckling at the thought that it was actually any different from the now. He was lost again, after all, and she was here. Perhaps history could repeat itself. "I don't know if you remember me. I, um, I'm Corey Andrews. I was... You helped me."

[interview-with-the-dave]

Dave had one rule for himself: stay away from Corey Andrews. So, naturally, all he thought about doing was the opposite. Since last November, Dave hadn't even heard a whisper of Corey. It made sense, of course. Ruby was a vampire. Carrie was a vampire. Karen McReid was dead. To add to the pile, Dave had turned his humanity off for seemingly no damn reason. Another reason to avoid him, Dave wasn't sure he could stand those sweet, sad, eyes looking at him with guilt or pity. Dave for Jess, that was the deal. Dave made the decision so no one else had to do it. It was done.

Still, he found himself out here again, in the Valley woods. He had no idea how to get back underground and that was by design. This was as close as he could get. He'd been sitting down, staring up at the sky aimlessly, no sense of time or urgency. He might as well let the earth swallow him back up whole.

With that objectively bleak thought, he heard something. No - wait, he heard someone. Dave didn't have to second-guess, he'd know him anywhere, like a breeze on the back of his neck or the sun on his skin. "Corey?" @corey-andrews-hih

[corey-andrews-hih]

Corey hadn't been out much since November. This would be his fourth time since Ruby returned, and even then, he never went further than the woods that stood tall above the institute. Which was fine, he thought, because the woods had always been his favourite, and it was a familiar place to start, and eventually he'd find the edge, and eventually he would go further.

He hadn't walked far when he'd heard his name called in the voice of someone more familiar to him than he could ever hope to know the trees, and perhaps that's why he hadn't noticed him there. Or perhaps he didn't want to. Dave used to be a constant in his life, before he became a victim to that late autumn night. Another person Corey couldn't help, in a string of many.

They'd not seen each other since. Corey had made sure it wasn't possible, becoming a captive of his own mind for the better part of six months. He was better, now, but by no means good. Not good enough to help his oldest friend. He recognised, however, that this wasn't a trick of the mind. That had taken him time to accept when Ruby returned, but seeing Dave he knew it instantly. "Dave, I-" he started, and stopped. There were too many things he wanted to say to his old friend, yet none of them made it.

[its-jess-bitches]

"Right, time. You need time. Totally get that," Jess said, walking to the other side of his room, inspecting the walls as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. And then she turned on her heel, facing him again, "Actually, no. I totally don't get that. What are you doing? She's here. You get that, right? Ruby's here. She's back. The girl that you love, your soulmate, is here, and she should be right here. You should be holding onto her and never letting go. Or you should be, I don't know, yelling and screaming. Kissing and making up! You should be doing something. What are you waiting for? Some people are never going to walk through the door again, you know?"

Her arms were up in the air in frustration and confusion. After everything they'd been through, why keep punishing himself? If Jess could have Logan back, she would in a heartbeat. She just... didn't understand. "Okay, well, it sounds obvious when you say it like that. I think you've always been good. And clearly totally, fricking, lost without my guidance!"

[corey-andrews-hih]

Corey couldn't do much but listen intently as Jess aired her frustrations. She was right. It wasn't meant to be like this. Some people never got this chance, and he wanted to take it. He was taking it. "Do you think that's what she deserves, Jess? Me?" He watched her intently, holding her gaze hoping she could see where his heart was. "Do you see me?" His hand raised to his chest as he spoke. "Someone she couldn't rely on to turn her? Someone she left because they couldn't teach her how to be this?" He'd spent 6 months mourning her, picking at his memories until they were coloured with disdain for himself. For everything he lacked. "The person I've been since that night - you think he should hold her? You think he's enough?"

His eyebrow quirked at her assessment of his past. She was right, again, in some ways. "I thought I was good, too. I've never been able to see past the monster that lives in us. I have that in common with most hunters, I suppose. I spent a century making mine small. I starved it, denied my instincts. That's what I thought was 'good'." A small, solemn smile crept up on him, "you're right though, I am lost. But I'm trying."

[radiant-ruby]

Ruby didn't dare move as his hand traced the invisible wound that had changed everything. While her head remained still, her eyes followed his as she fought the urge to pull away; to stop him from fixating on what happened. Shame washed over her at the memory of begging him to do it, of his refusal, of what came next. Ruby didn't regret her decision to follow her sister down this path, but with a clear head, she knew that she would have gone about it differently. Their eyes met again and she couldn't stop herself from whispering again, "I'm sorry."

Her eyebrows knit together as he spoke, too aware that he wasn't accepting her apology- that he wasn't forgiving her. His words scrambled in her mind, unsure of what he meant. Better? What she deserved? Ruby had been the weak one. She was the one who made an impulsive decision; she was the one who ran when everything became too overwhelming. Doubt crept into her mind as she tried to piece together what had changed. Had she hurt him too much? Had she shattered his trust? Made him doubt that he was enough? Or was it her? Corey had fallen in love with human Ruby. It was no secret that he considered himself a monster, was that how he saw her now? Were these simply his excuses to escape the soulless thing she had become?

Something deep inside of her screamed at her to fight- to go down kicking and screaming that he was enough and that she was still her, but she was suddenly aware of how public this exchange was and she refused to fall apart again. She took a step back from him, his magnetic pull creating a resistance that threatened to shatter her. "Do what you have to do." Her words were almost cold as she fought to keep her voice steady. "But know that you're already more than I deserve."

[corey-andrews-hih]

It stung him to have her pull away from him, again. "No," Corey disagreed, "you deserve better than this. I- I'm broken," his voice threatened to break into stutters as he battled to reassure her rather than blame her. Her actions had been the final blow, no one could deny that, but there had been so much of him already missing. "I was broken long before you met me, but you held me together. I relied so heavily on you. I put so much on you." He wasn't sure if she'd understand because it was a dependency he himself had only recently discovered. He'd always put blind faith in her, believing that the goodness in her would be enough to save them. Save him. "You left, and I never picked up the pieces."

He reached out for Ruby's hand, grasping it tightly in both of his, desperate to keep her, "I do love you." The admission still struck guilt in him. His love for her had damaged him beyond recognition, but he knew well that he would never be able to escape it. He didn't want to, he just needed it to be good, again. Better. He needed to be whole, instead of filling every void with this love he'd grown for her past self, that still lingered strongly in her present. "I don't want to be the person you needed to leave. I want to be better. I want to be equal." He paused for a moment, hesitating, freeing her hand from his, "I don't know if that's what you want, but that's what I need, and I hope you found what you needed too."

[clarissagrayfangs]

Clarissa shouldn't have found him so endearing, but she seemed unable to help herself. 'Baltimore, I mean'. An amused smile tugged at her lips at his words, and she found herself holding back a little chuckle. Already, he was entirely too sweet for a vampire. At least, the sort that she'd had the misfortune of knowing over the decades. When he introduced himself, she found herself turning his name over in her head. Cornelius. Corey, if she liked. Clarissa considered his question, deciding just who she wanted to be at this moment, assuming it would be only a moment. Over the years, she had removed herself more and more from her human life. Her mother's name, 'Elizabeth', was still hers, even if she never said or wrote it anymore. For whatever reason, then, Clarissa found herself saying, "It seems I do like it, Corey it is. You can - it's Elizabeth Grayson, but why don't you call me 'Elle'. If you like." She repeated it back, teasingly.

"You said you're here with your brothers?" she asked, gesturing towards him, "are they...?" Vampires.

[corey-andrews-hih]

He'd been Cornelius for the eternity he'd known so far, but in feeling it belonged to someone whose life he could no longer live, he'd settled on 'Corey'. He hadn't been convinced by its familiarity until he heard it on her lips. She made it sound like someone he wanted to be, and his smile grew at the mere possibility of it. "Elle." Her name was soft yet lively, much like her playful words - Lively. Alive. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Elle." Elle. He wanted her name to roll off his tongue forever.

"Are they...? Oh. Yes, unfortunately." His smile faltered, the stars in his eyes dimming as it dawned on him that'd he'd just voiced their collective being as lamentable. In an attempt to save face he forced a pressed smile, but it quickly waned again as he recalled the short of their family history, "we came from Chicago." He distracted himself by scanning their surroundings for his brothers, but truthfully Corey had no idea where they were, least of all expecting them to be here. Alex might not even be in Baltimore anymore. "I've misplaced both of them," Corey admitted, his attention quickly returning to her with new-found, misplaced optimism. "Are you familiar with Baltimore? I could really use, well-," he took a deep breath, releasing it through a short chuckle, "I'm pretty clueless, as I'm sure you can already tell."

[boykavalier]

PAUL MESCAL TIFF 2025 | The Hollywood Reporter

[its-jess-bitches]

"Physically," she added, raising her eyebrows before promptly looking away from shirtless, mindful, Corey. "Not like, spiritually. Anyway, I only asked because I would have assumed that you'd be busy. And not 'dusting shelves' busy." Jess walked around the room as she spoke, hoping to catch a glimpse - a hint - that her best friend had made her home back here. No luck, yet. He wasn't wrong, though, he had significantly cleaned up in here. Anyone who hadn't been underground for the past 6 months wouldn't even guess that Corey Andrews had been anything but totally together.

"Where's Ruby?" she asked. What she really meant was 'why isn't Ruby here' but she felt it was implied enough. She was trying to stay focused, you know? But still also asked, "And could you do a chin stand before? Or is that all down to your vampy-ness?"

[corey-andrews-hih]

"Oh," Corey proclaimed, hesitating for a moment while his mind put two and two together before promptly putting his shirt on. "No, I- Not quite." He looked around himself, understanding what she was getting at, made ever clearer by her question. He wished Ruby was here too. To feel the warmth of her body, to discover every new bruise and scrape adorning her. Watch her wear them with pride. Of course, those were only memories. Her skin would be as cold as his now, her injuries heal quicker than he could capture them all. "We're... It's gonna take some time. I- I need some time." Ironic, wasn't it? He'd pleaded 6 months for her to come back and now that Ruby was here he had distanced himself even further.

"You think I spent my human years doing chin stands? In the 1910s?" Corey chuckled then, amused for the first time in a long time. "Do you think I was always like this?" He asked, smiling at the idea of it. There was no doubt in his mind that time had changed him, and would continue to do so, but in Jess's defence she'd only known him for a fraction of his lifetime.

[its-jess-bitches]

After 6 long months, Ruby was finally home. Her Ruby. Their Ruby. Was it really so naive to think that everything would get back to the way it was? That now Ruby McReid was back on solid ground, the world could be saved and wrongs could be righted? Most of all, now she was back, Corey Andrews could finally stop waiting. This was everything they'd wanted. It was what Jess had hoped and wished for every night since November 2016. And she was sure that Corey had wished and hoped for the same.

Finding him hadn't been as easy as usual. Or, maybe, Jess wasn't quite ready to face him. They'd barely made progress, Corey's hope held up only by the reappearance of Nigel, and now this. She just didn't know what to expect. Jess took a deep, unnecessary, breath and pushed open the door, "Hope everybody's decent in here." @corey-andrews-hih

[corey-andrews-hih]

Ruby was back, and Corey still felt stuck grieving the loss of her, but he could see the way forward now. Ruby wasn't the problem. Jess's actions weren't the problem. He was the problem. His own inabilities, his weakness, his selfish limitations. He was determined to answer for it. To accept, to move on. To be better - he had to. This couldn't happen again.

He wanted to serve, to be useful, to redeem himself.

He'd kept to himself, mostly, since her return. More active in operations since the implosion, but still alone. It was different - it wasn't self pity, and he wasn't avoiding anyone, or anything. It was good. His obsessive thinking replaced with meditation. His diet, and appetite, returning. He sought balance, and focus. He'd taken up yoga, which proved a challenge with the breathwork required. As Jess entered, he returned from a chin stand to a plank position. Focussed, but now on her. "Decent?" he contemplated the word for a moment before standing to grab his shirt, "I think you're safe. I dusted the shelves and all."

[c-harlesemerson]

Charlie cocked an eyebrow in challenge to the statement he had almost made. He wasn't about to admit it, but Ruby leaving hadn't exactly been a picnic for him either. He had made a promise to Karen to look after them if anything happened to her, and he couldn't even do that. Continuing to train Danny had been the only useful thing he'd really done in the last six months. Charlie's jaw clenched when Corey asked the question and he was at a loss for how to reply. The answer was no. He hadn't found a way to move on and he wasn't sure that he would. His plans had been interrupted- first by the Revolutions, then by William- and he hated that. Maybe the importance of those plans had been lost somewhere along the way, but they were his plans to change. Not Edward's. Not William's. His. "I'll move on when William Rebelo is dead. What's your plan? Mope around in here and hope she comes crawling back?"

[corey-andrews-hih]

"Vengeance?" Corey nodded, understanding where Charlie was coming from despite not agreeing with it. It had never been his path, but he'd encountered many whose lives were consumed by the idea of revenge. He'd lost loved ones to it. It was powerful. Corey's eyes flickered in tune with his thoughts as he tried to find the answer to Charlie's question, bouncing through every what-if that had plagued him these long months. Finally, he met Charlie's eyes again, "I'm trying to find a way to accept that I could have done more."

[p-ercyandrews]

Percy had to fight his instinct to smirk at Chris' complaints in the next cell. It was incredibly satisfying knowing that he was the one to put him there, and it made this whole scene all the better for it. He wished he could see him. As it was, he kept his attention on his other two brothers, now standing side by side and asking all the right questions. They were playing their parts excellently.

"The short answer? Yes, I knew you were here. And nothing. I don't want anything other than to know you." Quick and to the point, but severely lacking in detail, Percy hoped his response had piqued their interest. "The long answer...?" He shrugged, looking at each of them in turn, knowing fine well that he would have to explain himself, but wanting desperately to see the curiosity in their eyes. What was the point in a story without a captivated audience?

"I grew up knowing about you. When my mother died, I didn't have anyone else, so I did everything I could to leave France and get to America, but when I finally found your family home... well..." It was burned to the ground, of course. "I asked around and I was told that the Andrews family perished in that fire, so... I moved on. Tried to start a life. You can imagine how it ended up." Percy used a hand to indicate himself and his obvious vampire-ness.

"A few years ago, I heard that a war was coming; that supernaturals from all over were gathering in Havensdale Valley and mixed into all that, I heard the name 'Andrews' being thrown around- alongside Jordan Rickman, of all people! I wasn't foolish enough to believe it could be you, but I had hope. But then..." He dramatically flared his hands to indicate a puff of smoke, "It was gone. I forgot what I was looking for. I forgot Havensdale entirely. It was only recently that memories started trickling back in, and so... here I am."

His eyes glistened as he faked fighting back his crocodile tears. "I found Chris first, but it didn't take me long to realise his humanity was off. I thought he might have led me to you both, but when he didn't, I changed plans. I knocked Chris out and brought him to the McReid house, thinking the hunters of this town might help me if I brought them... someone from the other side. I didn't realise I'd be stumbling into this entire operation." Percy's brows knitted together, his joy at finding them turning a little sad. "I've been alone for so long... I just needed to find you."

@alex-andrews-hih

[alex-andrews-hih]

As Percy finished up his short answer version of the story Alex scoffed. He'd been perfectly happy not knowing Percy so much as existed until about 20 minutes ago, and he'd be just as happy going back to that. Despite this, he couldn't help but listen intently to the longer tale, the contents of which he found to be believable, for the most part. "France? Quite the journey, sounds disappointing." Believable, however, was a standard that didn't hold much potency these days. It wasn't enough. Trust had to be gained, and Alex didn't throw that around for free anymore.

His brow furrowed as the newest Andrews referred to his vampirism, spurring an important question, "who sired you?" It couldn't have been Edward, surely. Alex' lips tugged towards a smile for brief moment at that possibility - it wouldn't surprise him at this point, despite the unlikelihood. "Popular guy, our Jordan. Who is he to you? I can go get him, he's normally quite sociable. Chris, you'd like to see Jordan too, I'm sure?"

Alex expression, which had mostly been a steadfast frown since entering the holding cells, softened into a look of confusion at his new brother's emotional recount of his actions since entering the dome. However, Alex wasn't about to delve deeper into this pointless bonding session for fear of connecting with a hope that - well, that he could have his brothers back. His family. Bring Corey back from the edge. Make Chris see sense. Edward would surely take this from him as well. "Well, consider us found. Hope we've lived up to your expectations. I'm sure, at least on my part, they weren't overstated. I'll leave you in the capable hands of the Institute." With that, he looked to Corey and nodded towards the door, urging them both to leave.

@christopherbites

[christopherbites]

Chris leaned against the wall of his cell as Percy started his seemingly never ending speech. He did listen, though. A part of him curious as to how this new brother of theirs came to be, both in the world and in Havensdale. It all tracked, made enough sense, and sounded tragic enough that Chris wasn't inclined to doubt him. Another bleeding heart in a long line of Andrews brothers. Chris thought back on his father, objectively and without feeling. He remembered looking up to him, this unshakeable force, strong and proud. Good and honourable. Funny, wasn't it?

"Thank you for that!" he shouted through the wall to Percy. He didn't much enjoy becoming the bargaining chip in this little scenario. If Percy was so interested in bonding with his brothers, it was clear he'd picked his priorities. Chris wasn't going to turn his humanity back on, come hell or high water. Corey and Alex were what he could have. In fact, he could be his guest. He could wait this bullshit out. He could get out of here.

It was then Alex mentioned Jordan, bringing a scowl to Chris' face. And then, he was moving to leave. He wanted to take Corey with him too. 'I'll leave you in the capable hands of the Institute'. Chris suddenly felt a pit in his stomach, something akin to panic rising in his chest. It wasn't, of course. He was fine. Suddenly, he launched himself at the reinforced glass between them. Again, it didn't budge. His fangs were bared, but he was still weaker than ever from the night before. "Don't you dare leave me in here."

@corey-andrews-hih

[corey-andrews-hih]

Corey couldn't help but wonder where he'd been during Percy's journey to find them. At any interval, could they have crossed paths? He had lived in his own past for months now, and it was hard to let go of the idea that there had been connections he'd missed. His heart flinched at the mention of Chicago. He'd always feel longing for their childhood home. "We had to leave," he recalled, but didn't divulge further. He remained silent as Alex instead seemed to speak his mind freely. When his brother signalled his wish to leave, Corey remained, still figuring out how these new puzzle pieces fit into their lives.

"Did you-" Cut off by Chris' eruption at the glass, he felt the same pity he'd given Jess run through him when she was locked behind bars. Tired, hungry. Yet, he knew he couldn't do anything to help him. Not right now. His words would be meaningless, but he still offered them. "No one is leaving. Alex," he said, stopping his brother in his tracks, "this isn't something we can run away from."

@p-ercyandrews

[clarissagrayfangs]

Flashback: Baltimore, 1929

Clarissa had been taking a break this decade from her unending quest for revenge. She had decided that she was done with Vivian Vandeviere and her reign of terror. If Clarissa was doomed to this eternal life, this souless venture, perhaps she could try and enjoy it, if only for the 1920s. Making her way to New York, Baltimore was only a pit stop for her. It was difficult, trying to embrace what she was, to not fall into despair. To long and brood for a life that had once been hers, centuries ago. The fact of the matter was that she would never be human again. So, why not enjoy a little song and dance, and a drink from the vein?

For now, though, the day was still young and the sun still shining. It was with that thought that she noticed him. Clarissa had little interest in other vampires, often avoided them or opted for throwing them out of high story windows. But something about him gave her pause, which was mildly annoying, actually. He wasn't even really doing anything, and there she was making her way over. "First time?" she raised a brow, adding, "In Baltimore, I mean." @corey-andrews-hih

[corey-andrews-hih]

It had been barely 7 years since his death. Rebirth. As a human he'd seen so little of the world, barely crossing state borders from Illinois through to Indiana - he could have stayed his whole life in the bubble of Chicago if it hadn't been taken from them. He'd come around to understanding the necessity in ridding themselves of all connections to their home, but 7 years on, he was still homesick. Baltimore was a far stretch from the life he'd known back home. They'd arrived only few days prior, and he was faced with the challenge of once again establishing himself in a new place, and a new society.

There was something strange, still, about not hearing a heartbeat. He'd not quite gotten used to the feeling of knowing that a person wasn't a human, and having made every attempt to blend in with the furniture, he wasn't sure what he'd done to be deserving of this particular vampire's attention. She was striking, so much so that he'd entirely forgotten to respond to her question amidst the wonder of her presence. "I..." He shook his head lightly, trying to blink away the enchantment she'd cast on him by just being. "I've never had the pleasure, until now." He carefully took a step closer to her wanting to introduce himself, but more desperately needing to know her. "Quite mesmerising. Baltimore, I mean." A nervous laugh accompanied his embarrassment. "I'm Cornelius, though you can call me Corey, if you'd like. I, um, arrived a few days ago with my brothers. I- Can I ask your name?"

[hardyscal]

[radiant-ruby]

Something in her chest tightened when she heard the disbelief in his voice. 'Are you? Home?' Ruby was standing right there in front of him and he was doubting it. She had made him doubt her. She didn't know what had happened when she left, but if Corey was capable of thinking she was a delusion... Had his mind been playing tricks on him? Had she done that to him?

In the blink of an eye, he was suddenly standing before her, his hands on either side of her face, and Ruby closed her eyes. Despite their low body temperature, her skin burned where he touched her, her nerve receptors screaming at being held by him again. After taking a moment to lean into him, she finally looked up into his eyes and tentatively reached up to wipe away his silent tears.

Ruby didn't regret leaving. She hadn't been right and she couldn't have stayed down here in the state that she was in, knowing that she could hurt someone she cared about. But she regretted this; she regretted running from him. Her eyes stung when Corey told her she was home and her own tears began to fall. "I'm sorry." She breathed, choking back a sob. "For it all. I'm so sorry."

[corey-andrews-hih]

While one hand stayed carefully at the side of her face, his other trailed down the side of her neck where he carefully ran his fingers over the site of where her scars from that night would have been. His eyes fixed on her neck, and he knew he'd made a mistake. There was no evidence of it left, no trace of her own actions, or Jess's. Yet he'd lived it, seen it, every day since, and he could see it now. His eyes pressed together to repel the images, which only left him once Ruby's hand grazed his cheek. He drew a soft, relieved breath at the sudden jolt back to reality. The release was welcome, her touch honing him home. His eyes focused on hers again, believing - hoping, they could save him in time.

He could feel the sincerity of her apology. "I know, I-" Corey's acceptance of it, however, stuck in his throat. He wasn't ready. "I'm going to be better. I'll be what you deserve, Ruby. I just- I need..." he needed her, but he also needed time. Her name still stung his lips when he spoke it. "I want to be better, for you."

[its-jess-bitches]

Jess did roll her eyes when he mentioned Dave. She was still pissed that he'd managed to get her here. If she hadn't been so focused on Ruby that night, he never would have stood a chance. That much she was convinced of. As always, it came back to Ruby. With her back still turned to him, she closed her eyes. She was gorgeous. Jess had the same thought. Without her humanity, her deeply meaningful love for Ruby McReid had been poisoned. Twisted. Too strong to forget, too dangerous to ignore. Jess wished she could get away from both of them, but that wasn't in the cards for her. Not with her maker pulling the strings. 'I need her'. A sharp memory came crashing down on her then. "I kind of need you, Corey Andrews," she said out loud, but she didn't feel anything. Certainly not the way she had that night with him. Jess turned to face Corey, taking a couple of shaky steps to the bars, her hands wrapping around them. Her voice was quiet, and her weakness was fighting to get free. "I can't do it, Corey. I can't go back. After everything I've done... I won't survive it."

[corey-andrews-hih]

Corey's eyes lifted as she repeated a sentence she'd spoken so vulnerably the first time he'd heard it, as he remembered their conversation. Said into the nothingness of her cage, her voice no longer conveyed the reliance she used to bestow in him. He knew well that she didn't feel it. Couldn't. In his mind, she needed him now more than ever. "You do need me." He said it with confidence, something that had been lacking in him when they'd first needed each other. A sad smile took hold of him as her hands pressed around the bars. He sat down on the floor in front of her, deciding to stay despite his instincts urging him to leave as he had first intended. "I understand that you might not think you can, but do you think you'll survive this?" He motioned to the cage, his shoulders dropping with sorrow for her situation. "You have people here that still love you. They'll help you. They... They'll forgive you."

[grandpafcngs]

Jordan grinned when he saw Corey and tried not to let it falter. He was so happy to see him again but only a fool could ignore the haunted look in his eye. The way he spoke, the way he held himself up... Jordan knew defeat when he saw it, knew what it was like to be dragged through the trenches and left there to die. He wasted little time before pulling Corey into a tight hug, "I'm here." He patted his back a couple of times before reluctantly pulling back, getting a closer look at him. "I'm back for good. A promise is a promise-," he smiled- "Not that she made it easy, mind you. We've still got a lot work to do but this is a start. We're going to get through this, Corey."

[corey-andrews-hih]

Corey held tightly onto Jordan's embrace, allowing it to become an anchor for his acceptance of their presence as Jordan pulled away. "Thank you," he said, returning Jordan's smile with one of his own. There was a genuineness in it that had only been presenting itself in fleeting moments in the past week, but this time it stayed. "I know, I..." Corey paused, feeling his heart ache to be hopeful again, "I want to get through this. I want to be better, I want to fight for it. I can."

[p-ercyandrews]

Ah, the darling 'step-daddy'. If only he knew. "Is that so? Well, it sure sounds like you've got me all figured out." What a fun guy. His mind was going to be so blown if he ever chose to reveal the truth- something else for him to look forward to. The question on Chris' lips would have been a fun one to answer, but Percy couldn't be too disappointed when it was interrupted by the door opening. Showtime.

Using the wall as leverage, Percy pushed himself up and slowly approached the glass, his hands pressing against it as he stared at Alex. He smiled at him as he made his observations, letting excitement- awe- leak into his expression. "Alex?" The door opened again and he watched as Corey hesitantly entered the picture. This moment was... everything. For decades, Percy had been watching them from the shadows, but to have them see him? It was exhilarating. His smile grew, tears welling in his eyes as he looked at his family. "You're really here."

It wasn't difficult to fake the emotional response one with their humanity on would have to this situation. He had been honing his acting skills for years and it certainly helped that he was absolutely buzzed to be here. "I've been... outside for a while." He admitted. "I couldn't get past the town boundary, but then that explosion happened and there was a ripple." He waved his fingers against the glass, "I followed two other vampires through." The implication being that it was Ruby and Jordan. "I've been looking for you."

@alex-andrews-hih

[alex-andrews-hih]

"Well, you've just got yourself the most adorable doppelganger," Alex snickered at Chris, ignoring Corey's entrance until he heard his line of questioning. Turning to Corey in bewilderment, he exclaimed, "who cares where he's been? He's here in a cell." Returning his attention to Chris, he clapped his hands together gleefully, "a crisis would suit you. Feels like it's due time."

He listened as Percy answered Corey, uninterested in this particular subject matter, but his mannerisms caught his attention. The excitement, the emotions - he could see it. Himself. Corey. Both of them in this stranger. Didn't mean he'd have to accept him though. Family wasn't just blood. Alex walked to stand side by side with Corey to study the newcomer. "What do you want?"

@christopherbites

[christopherbites]

Chris couldn't help rolling his eyes at all three of them, newbie included. Perhaps he was the cynic of the group, but was anyone really buying this bullshit? His brow furrowed as he heard the emotion swell in Percy's voice, scoffing at his explanation. He bet that Corey would be eating this shit up. And Alex? Well, he was looking far too gleeful at the fact that Chris was locked up for his liking. He felt like he was standing in the middle of a Hallmark movie, and he wanted to exit stage right immediately. "Doppelgänger, huh? Well, if you're volunteering to take my place, brother," he directed at Percy, "Then be my guest."

He made his move to the glass of his cell door, annoyed that he was having to live through this back and forth. "Hey, this is touching and all-," he punctuated this by slamming his palm against the door (it barely made a ripple)- "But when exactly are you planning on letting us out of here?"

@corey-andrews-hih

[corey-andrews-hih]

Corey ignored Alex' grumbles as he poured all his focus into Percy. There were already so many aspects of his entrance into their lives that Corey longed to uncover, and the decades preceding it. The explosion causing a ripple in the dome stuck with him, but it took second place upon the mention of Joran and Ruby. Everything would always take second place when Ruby was involved, that much hadn't changed. Still though, he wasn't in a rush to lay bare his cards all at once to this stranger, despite their familiarity. "You knew we were here?" He asked quietly as Alex came to his side with a seemingly more pressing question.

Chris finally caught his attention with an aggressive thud to the glass, and he felt momentarily guilty for having ignored him. Often, he'd wondered if things would have turned out differently if Chris had received the attention he deserved. Perhaps glass wouldn't be separating them. Right now, however, he was relieved it was there. "I don't think anyone's planning on letting you out." He responded truthfully. "Not yet."

@p-ercyandrews

[p-ercyandrews]

Percy grinned from ear to ear when he was accused of having a flare for the dramatic. Something they had in common, perhaps? Maybe it ran in their genetics to be a vacuum for attention in whatever room they inhabited. "What can I say? I was nervous." He turned slightly so that his back was now against their shared wall, and leaned his head back. "Can't say I anticipated being locked up beside you, though. That was my bad, but you have to commend their security."

He took a moment to look around the room- at the bright lights and white walls of his cell, the one glass wall making him feel like he was a new exhibit at the zoo, the world beyond that lead to the entire underground operation of the Resistance. Percy didn't much like being caged, but he was nothing if not a patient man. He would get out of this cell through manipulation or force- he didn't care which. So, despite the circumstances, he was absolutely tickled to have infiltrated this elusive location already. His attention shifted back to the conversation when Chris laughed, and his smile somehow widened. "I couldn't say. My mother certainly... romanticised the situation, and him. My view is a little rose-tinted, I'm afraid."

@alex-andrews-hih

[alex-andrews-hih]

Alex hadn't been sure what to expect when Ana called both himself and Corey for a debrief but a family reunion sure wasn't it. Percy Andrews? Who the fuck was that? As soon as she'd said where they were held, Alex was off, leaving the logistics to his brother. There was only one way in hell he'd believe this, and that was seeing it for himself.

As soon as he stormed in he flew straight past Chris' cell to greet his new brother, no doubt interrupting their conversation. The resemblance was uncanny, to say the least. There was no doubt that this man was related to Chris. He analysed Percy for a fair few seconds before turning to Chris in the other cell with a smirk, "have you seen this?" He motioned to Percy while addressing his younger brother - the only one he'd had until today. His eyebrows raised in disbelief, "guess you're not the baby anymore."

@christopherbites

[christopherbites]

"Well, better a rose-tinted view than none," Chris mused, before he added, "Perhaps count yourself lucky you never had our darling step-daddy swooping in to save the day. It doesn't sound as if you could have handled it." If Percy was really so keen to have his little family reunion, to fall into the hearts and minds of Corey and Alex, he wasn't on his side. He wasn't on Edward's side. Brother or not, he was another enemy on a long list. Unlike Corey and Alex, Chris had no qualms about tearing out his heart if needed.

Although, admittedly, his curiosity was getting the better of him. "What exactly do you wa---," Chris was swiftly cut off by the unannounced arrival of Alex. He was angry. How interesting! Chris rolled his eyes at Alex's question. "No, brother, I haven't had the pleasure, given the fact that I'm in the adjoining cell. The wall is looking rather lovely though, so I'll let my imagination go from there." A scoff that threatened to become a laugh passed his lips at Alex's observation. "I can feel the existential, identity, crisis coming on already."

@corey-andrews-hih

[corey-andrews-hih]

Corey had excused himself from Ana after Alex' outburst to follow him, but only after querying the Institute's intentions with their capture. Unfortunately, he'd not been able to confirm just that before he'd had to go for fear of leaving Alex alone with Chris too long. The mere idea of the existence of a younger Andrews brother sat heavy in Corey's chest, and he'd entered the holding cells with apprehension. Doubt.

He walked past Alex antagonising Chris to see Percy in the other cell. He looked like them. He looked like Chris. He couldn't tell if he was like Chris, however. "Percy." He tried a smile, but it felt flat and insincere. This younger Andrews' sudden appearance in their lives worried him. There were demons in their family. Their personalities. Chris expressed the worst of it, and Corey couldn't let that happen again. "How long have you been here? In Havensdale?"

@p-ercyandrews