Damon Salvatore

I'm better at being the bad guy anyway *Part of Vieux Noyés rp*

[courageouscami]

dark-salvatore‌:

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t care much about people, so that shouldn’t matter. But…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but he knew he had returned for Elena and Stefan, that they were the reason he was staying while he should leave and build up a live in… well, anywhere else, as long as he was far away from Klaus and that entire family. He didn’t need to hold up his facade as a loving family man for Cami anymore, but he couldn’t really deny that he somehow cared for some people. 

He shook his head. “Trust me… black cars blocking the streets stand out as well. And even in New York I haven’t seen as many of them as here… I’ve lived practically everywhere, so I have a bit more material to compare it with than Tennessee…” That was a place he had never lived and he didn’t plan on it either. Just the name sounded awfully boring already. He needed a bit more life around him, so it wouldn’t be noticed if he would bring some death to it. Drunk people, people who were partying… they got lost easily without search parties going out immediately. Which probably was partly why New Orleans had such a pull on the supernatural community. “Nah… no plague, or we’d put away all the sick far, far away. People are not very comfortable around that, you know.”, he quipped, before he started to laugh. “And why do you think I know more? What do you want to hear. Yes, Cami, there happens to be a high number of serial killers in this town and I happen to know all of them?” , he mocked. It happened to be pretty close to the truth, but it sounded kind of ridiculous. “People probably go missing easily when they drank more than is good for them… which happens a lot around here.”

“You’re a real charmer, huh?” Cami remarked dryly, upon hearing him admit that he didn’t care much about people. Still, shady as it was - shady as Damon was, she couldn’t deny that this was preferable. Better an ugly truth, than the sweet but deceptive sob story about a single-father chasing after his long-lost love. How the hell hadn’t she seen through that??…

Because you see what you want to see… Because you’re a sucker for a sad story.

“So then there’s a real trend, it’s not just some type of recency bias.” She mused aloud before shelving the thought. “I dunno, Damon. It was a passing thought and you were the guy who happened to be standing right in front of me, so don’t flatter yourself. Besides, you sounded jaded enough to be ‘in the know’ about the funeral influx so I made the mistake of thinking you were either onto something - or much smarter than you look.” The blonde cocked a brow, and a wry smile followed. “Don’t worry, I won’t make that mistake again. See you around, Damon. Say hi to Stefan for me… Tell him I’ll be paying a visit soon.” After the suspicious run-in with him and Charlie, Cami was beginning to wonder whether playing the ‘perfect gentleman’ was a part both Salvatore brothers knew well. She had some more thinking to do before that though, and a confrontation with Marcel to tackle first. So many questions, so little time. And so thinking, the young woman side-stepped the male and continued on her way.

[soulofsundae]

Cast-Off || Open

[dark-salvatore]

soulofsundae‌:

“Most people have morals that way but they can all be bent in certain extreme circumstances.” After all, he’d never advocate murder as an answer and yet he’d carted poor Issac off to his death at the promise of having what he’d always wanted. “Would the phrase, ‘we’re only human’ be considered inappropriate?” he asked, a small chuckle following his statement. It didn’t particularly bother him what Damon may have done in his past, after all he was unlikely to tell him and in turn Egrid was just as likely to keep quiet about his own less… glamorous past. “Sounds extremely disorientating.” he said quietly. For magic it was very different, the skill was essentially always there but it simply manifest in small bursts until a person could control it. He’d ended up setting several things on fire, freezing a cooked goose or blowing over picture frames when he was angry. A rare visitor had believed his home to be haunted after a few of those occurrences happened. “It is understandable though, a species is built to ensure it survives and reproduces; if vampire’s were unable to feed at all unless they were sociopaths then they’d likely have died out some time ago.” They were the way they were, just as witches did unspeakable things when it came to ensuring their power remained strong. “It certainly would be if you owned an ice cream business.” He said somewhat wryly, though that probably applied only to him. “Probably. They were a motivating factor for me and helped me get here, get a business set up.” that alone was probably a good life for him to live but… it wasn’t enough. It also caused him to help with the Harvest and that, well that had ruined him. He smiled softly, “Family protect their own, even when it’s done in very strange ways.”

He blinked and tilted his head slightly, “Really? Did they continue to age as the went?” It would perhaps lend some credence to the idea of witches as ‘Old Crones’ that the fairytales he read seemed to love so much. But he’d never read anything in the book Bastianna gave him that hinted at an extended life-span. “Well, when you can live forever I suppose there’s no such thing as too much.” He in theory could indulge his pleasures forever, but he couldn’t help but wonder if after so long the thrill of a poison would fade away. “Most would.” he replied, again that wryness to his tone. “Is that because of your switch or were you perhaps that vicious in your human life as well?” he sighed, “I don’t think she wanted to so much as she was left with no choice to.” he paused a moment, “Vampires struck the first blow after all.” They’d massacred the coven before the Harvest was complete, that had ruined the balance of the city. “Hmm. But there’s a little comfort in knowing there’s an end.”    

He blinked once again, chuckling softly, “Surely most bartenders aren’t qualified to be doling out therapy to people?” Though they probably had more experience than most with the human condition. “Well it makes people underestimate you, that can be useful in certain points.” It was how he’d captured Isaac after all. “True, but I’m still pleased it did go better than I’d thought it would.” In some misguided way it gave him hope for the other’s he’d meet. Egrid chuckled once more, “High praise indeed considering you’re no fan of witches.” 

“Nah... they just let me bend the morals I don’t have anyway and complain afterwards after I’ve saved them from whatever threatened to kill them this week. That’s how it works in my life, simple...” He knew he maybe should think things over before he did them, but he had done a lot of horrible things he’d never regret, simply because they were necessary to save someone else. If he had to choose between his life and some stranger, he -or Stefan, or Elena...- would always get the priority. Then he chuckled. “Not sure if human is the right word for it, but I guess it comes down to that, yeah...” He nodded. “You have no idea... even if someone tells you how it’s gonna be, it’s still... too much to ever prepare for...” The sounds, the smells, the sight... and then he didn’t even take the all consuming hunger that made sure you couldn’t think of anything else. Still... he would have resisted it, if Stefan hadn’t... he broke off that thought. No need to reminiscence now. It had happened and it was for the better. “Exactly. Balance, like I said...” No matter how much everyone talked down the whole humanity switch, he was convinced it was put there to make sure you could survive as a vampire. It did come in handy after you got used to killing for a living as well, though, he thought with a faint smile. He chuckled. “I don’t think you’ll see a lot of vampires owning an ice cream shop though... especially not the ones without rings.” Then he nodded. “Yeah... even if you have to assist at some evil witch child killing ritual...”

He thought a bit.... “They aged, but slower. You didn’t even know that? Why does it always have to be me telling new witches things about their own kind?”, he wondered. He had had to... motivate the new Bennett witch in some ways, and now this? Didn’t those witches keep their secrets even from their own? He shook his head. “Believe it or not, as a human I was a very decent, lovesick fool... well, not according to my father, who clearly preferred my good brother over me, but no... I was actually pretty decent back then. I just found out later how much more fun life is is you really enjoy it.” Even his first years as a vampire had been relatively austere, killing for what he needed, not what he desired... “Vampires struck the first blow?”, he frowned, thinking back of what he knew about that ritual. It had been before he had come to town, but he had heard a bit about it. “You mean the part where Marcel prevented you lot from killing kids in the first place?” That didn’t really make it any better... it was the same thing Sophie had done, but then with a whole coven. 

“Well, I think they’re better suited for that than some fellow drunk. Especially if said drunk has a bunch of very shady morals and a tendency to kill his drinking buddies.” He sighed and finished the last bit of ice cream he still had in his cup. “Well, it has all been good and well, but this is too much praise for me. I’m out.” He turned around to leave, but looked back one more time. “See you around, I guess.”

[soulofsundae]

Cast-Off || Open

[dark-salvatore]

soulofsundae:

Egrid smiled softly, “If only emotions were so simple for everyone with everything.” Though he suspected that even this man, as heartless and happy as he appeared to be, had something tugging at his heartstrings he kept secret. Vampire’s were human once and he was beginning to suspect there are some parts of humanity that simply won’t let go. Maybe that was why the Werewolf let him live that night. His humanity was what sealed the decision to led poor Isaac to his untimely death after all. “And is it an immediate process? You wake up vampiric, hungry for blood and lacking any emotional capacity?” It just seemed too convenient to him, but so had magic when he’d first begun to truly study it; by then he was aware of the oft hidden price. It was hard not think about hidden prices to vampirism too. “It that all? One little ring and the sun can’t harm you,” he smiled, “That’s good, I think I’d pity something that couldn’t enjoy the warmth of sunlight.” Even if he’d always prefer the cold at heart. “What if your emotions are driving you to what you want?” he asked, “Could they not be just one more motivating factor then?” he sighed, “And yet you still saved him, family… brothers,” his voice dropped, “They’re the most precious you can have. You never realise how much until they’re gone.” He was quiet for a few moments before nodding, “You’re right. I made my choice and now here I am, enjoying one nice day before those consequences come to call.” Which they would, a terrible, inescapable fact.

“Maybe so, but I don’t think I’ll have the time you’ve the luxury of to get used to it.” He had only his life, another seventy years at best to try and build something, revel in it and then bequeath it to whoever he had left behind. At the moment it wasn’t looking positive but perhaps time could change it. It was it’s own magic after all and could alter things irrevocably. “You’ve got your poison of choice it seems,” he said with a small, soft chuckle, “Doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate a small change before you return to your alcohol in it’s liquid form.” He nodded at the question and sighed once more, “Perhaps not, but I feel that price very keenly. Imagine if you’d lost your gifts after this, to wake up old and feeble when hours before you’d been strong and handsome.” It was something like that to his mind. “We’ll have to wait and see.” He’d be at the King’s mercy when he came calling.

“There is something fitting about the picture,” he said with a small nod, “A little like free therapy.” People sometimes told him a great deal of their lives as they ate, he imagined they spoke even more under the influence. “And modest too,“ he added with the tiniest of chuckles, “I’m pleased we agree. Though it doesn’t seem as though we’ve hurt for things to discuss. This has gone better than I expected really.”

“I know, I know... everyone around me always tends to drag me down, telling me I cant’do something because it wouldn’t be right, blablabla...” Even when it was the necessary thing to do. “But well... they do let emotions lead them, so... what else can you expect.” And lately even he let his emotions influence him, something that complicated matters immensely, in a way he actually didn’t want. It just... happened. It was the reason why he was still here, after all. That, and Marcel turning this city into a playground for vampires. And he had to admit... with Klaus on lockdown, it was a whole lot more fun, hanging around in New Orleans. As long as it lasted, obviously. He shook his head. “Nope, you wake up, dead, very confused, even more hungry and feeling very, very guilty, until you discover later you have a switch in your head you can play with, which makes sure you can survive and eat without mourning everyone you have to kill to do that. Balance, I guess.” Something he embraced, the moment he was done with his own punishment for living on when Katherine had not. Or at least, that’s what he had thought back then. He nodded. “It must be terribly annoying to be trapped inside the moment the sun is out... and imagine how vulnerable you’d be....” No wonder those nightwalkers were willing to do anything for a chance on a ring. “A motivating factor? Maybe. But also usually the cause to screw up everything you want to achieve. Trust me, I’ve seen it happening over an aover again.” He shrugged at the thought of Stefan. After all those years, after almost two centuries, he still didn’t know what he wanted to do about him. “Let’s just say that no one is allowed to kill him except for me. And trust me, I’d have my reasons for that.”

He smirked. “Nope... you won’t. Although I have seen witches live far past their natural age...” Some who posed as their own daughters, when he ran into them, about seventy or eighty years later. Another thing they condemned in vampires but shamelessly did themselves. “I do. Too much, if you ask some. I just think there’s never a too much from something you really enjoy.” Be it booze, food, sex or blood... he was here to indulge, not to live the life of a monk, depriving himself of all things he wanted. “O, I’d hate that. And I’d do anything to try to prevent or reverse that. Doesn’t mean I don’t expect those at a disadvantage because of that to come after me. Which is why I usually make sure to kill them first. So maybe her biggest mistake was to mess with vampires. Hard to kill too, next to those kids and we have patience. Ten years might be a long time for you, but for us? They just fly by...”

He sighed, annoyed. “They should just use the barkeep for their free therapy session, not someone drinking too. But that’s something not everyone understands yet.” He grinned and chuckled at the idea of him being modest. “Never have been, never will. What’s the fun of denying how awesome you are? And well, if you expected me to kill you on sight, it’s not that hard for this to go better than you expected.” He was silent for one moment, doubting if he would say something positive or not. “But I have to admit. I don’t loath you as much as I had expected to.”

[spideysaunt-deactivated20220320]

[hbiccarolineforbes]

@dark-salvatore

[soulofsundae]

Cast-Off || Open

[dark-salvatore]

soulofsundae:

“Perhaps now,” he conceded, “But I wonder if it was at the time? It has a funny way of changing our perspective on things after all.” he’d been repulsed at what he’d done to his brother when it had happened, believed himself to be the monster he’d been dubbed. Now? It was different. An unfortunate accident that could have been avoided if his brothers had truly loved him as they said they did; as he’d loved them. “I’m afraid I haven’t yet got the hang of switching off my feelings. In some ways they’re my strength.” his strength of hope was perhaps one of the few reasons he was able to stand here in the sun and be an abstract part of so many people’s happiness. “That’s good,” he whispered, “Please, never take him for granted. A brother is such a precious thing.” A true one, who loved and cared for you as you did him. “Out of context? Certainly. But I was desperate,” still was, “And it made a great deal more sense at the time.” He shook his head and sighed quietly, “I truly wish I could, life would be so much easier them but…I can’t.” a small shrug followed, “I simply can’t.”

“I’m sorry you had to deal with such discrimination. No one should be made to feel lesser for what they are,” he understood that better than most, “I’ve been running a great deal of my life, I think I lack your tenacity.” Failure after failure to get the one thing he wanted… He was tired; hope to be out in the world was one thing, but hope to try and best the odds of his loneliness? That was a great deal further off. Egrid chuckled softly, “Most don’t ask for the boozy ice creams, but I always pack a couple just in case a parent or young couple want something with a bit more kick to share; do you like it?” he asked quietly. “Mmm,” he agreed, turning once more to gaze at the reviling people before turning back to Damon. “I daresay she never will, we paid a punishment the moment the harvest failed. Not as great a punishment as you would inflict, but a punishment nonetheless.” he sighed, “Well, do let me know how it all works out.”

Egrid tilted his head slightly, “Why? You strike me as a man more physically than vocally inclined.” More likely to punch than talk. “What good would throwing my unhappy ending at you do?” he asked, “None. Better to eat ice cream and enjoy the sunshine.”

“It always does. I just don’t look back because of that. I mean, if I can’t change what happened, there’s no need feeling bad about it, isn’t there?” At least, that’s what he told everyone else what he did. He even tried to tell himself. But he didn’t spend months on a string of villages he couldn’t even remember the name of, somewhere last year, just because he liked being there. He just hadn’t wanted to face the consequences of what he had done. He chuckled. “That’s because you miss a handy switch to do that. Comes included with the whole vampire package. Like I said, having to wear a ring to be able to go out in the sun is a small price to pay for all the advantages.” He shook his head with a sight. “I’ve seen a lot of people over the years, kid... emotions are never a strength. They just stand in the way with whatever you want...” If Damon really wouldn’t have cared at all, he wouldn’t have found himself in the cemetery, assisting at some stupid ritual, after all. But no... he had to save his brother, only to find out he had gone full ripper and disappeared on him not long after that. “Precious? A pain in the ass, you mean...” He shrugged. “Well.. you made your choices... now you have to deal with the consequences. If you wouldn’t have wanted that, you should have moved just after that night. That’s usually my move.” That stopped being his move after he started to get involved with Elena. He really should rethink that whole relationship... it made him weak, someone he hadn’t been in a long tome. But somehow just walking away seemed impossible.

“You probably haven’t ran long enough. You get used to it, after a while.” It came with being a vampire, never having a place to settle, because somehow people would find out you didn’t age. Or, like in his case, you pissed off too many people, so it would be better to leave. He ignored the whole sympathy. He didn’t need that. Especially not from a witch. He doubted one moment before giving his opinion about the ice cream. “It’s better than the strawberry variant... I still prefer the real stuff though. I guess the only ice I need are the cubes in my drink.” He frowned. “Losing your magic, you mean? That’s hardly gonna be enough to pay for what she did to my brother and those kids... But I’ll tell you, if you’re still around.” Maybe Egrid didn’t like running, but Damon wondered what would happen if Marcel would find him. Maybe that would be incentive enough. 

“I guess it’s the whole vibe of someone sitting in a bar alone with a drink. Somehow that invites people to tell their very boring lifestories. Usually one or two looks are enough to scare them away, unless they’re really drunk.” He grinned. “In that case I do punch them from time to time, because yeah, you’re right, I’m far better at that.” He shook his head. “It wouldn’t do any good. I would be bored, you’d have a very painful face. Better for the both of us not to do it.”

[dark-salvatore]

todayitwillbedifferent:

“I know it isn’t going to be easy,” Elena practically huffs, frustration starting to mount. She had tried everything she could think of at the time in Rousseau’s, not only to buy herself more time but to try and find something – anything – that would result in a flicker of emotion. It hadn’t worked, but she had been operating on the fly. Maybe with a plan, with the time to come up with something there would be a better opportunity.

If they could find him first.

“It wasn’t.” At least, she doesn’t think so- not judging by how he had only stopped when Klaus had intervened. “Klaus compelled him I think. And changed his mind at the last second.” It wouldn’t take Damon long to piece together why. With her Aunt now gone, he was in need of another doppelganger and she had once again become the token one. Taking a deep breath, she tucks her hair behind her ear and nods. “For now.”

This – Stefan like this – is only temporary. And if Damon won’t help her, she’ll have to do it by herself.

Following him through the doorway into the large gym where tables and booths are set up, both to help students get fitted for their gowns and plan for what comes next, Elena fights a grimace once she catches a glimpse of the career center.  “It’s only a black gown. It could be worse. And so much more embarrassing.”

“That’s an understatement...” He didn’t want to have that discussion now, when it seemed they were finally not fighting anymore. He wanted to find his brother just as much as Elena did, he just... he didn’t want to give her false hope. Agreeing with her that they would bring Stefan back would be exactly that. It wasn’t going to happen. Not in Elena’s lifetime, at least.

“Why am I not surprised about that?” Everything that went wrong seemed to be Klaus’ fault lately. Stefan going off the rails included... “He didn’t tell me that, obviously...” Stefan had just told him he had gone ripper, not the reasons behind it. He had been too weak for that... Damon hadn’t pressed either when he had finally found Stefan after Sophie had left him weak and in pain. “Let me guess... Klaus found out he didn’t have Jenna anymore and needed you anyway?”, he said, sighing. “I’m surprised he hasn’t come for you yet, to be honest... he knows he needs a doppelganger...” Jenna had given the hybrid all the confirmation he needed.

He tried to suppress his boredom with the whole procedure of the fitting of the gowns. He really hoped that with Elena graduating it would be one of his last times in school... it wasn’t like he voluntarily came here. This was not an environment he fitted well in, after all. “O, like what? They could have made them pink? That would be hideous...”

[dark-salvatore]

hbiccarolineforbes:

Care: You should work on that so called charm. ALSO you text me to watch her but you don’t have any idea where she is. You’re no help. I’ll figure it out.

Damon: Why? I don’t have any problems with it. Damon: The whole point of texting you was that I couldn’t be too near her Damon: Good.

[soulofsundae]

Cast-Off || Open

[dark-salvatore]

soulofsundae:

“Then you must know it’s true, even in your case.” Egrid watched him for a moment, “I’d wager you’ve lost things you cared for in your years of life,” however many of those he’d had, “All part of the price for living beyond your years, forever young and beautiful.” Whereas magic brought things to the world that shouldn’t be there, forces, elements, bodies… And something needed to be lost in exchange. Even then the powers could be taken, leaving you with nothing, as had happened to him. “Yes I do.” he smiled softly and shook his head, “I loved my magic, but no, I didn’t want the power. I simply wanted love.” it was the crux of his motivations and if the other wanted to hear more he could ask; frankly Egrid doubted it. Living so long probably made one a lover of secrets. “I’d really rather it all just go away.” They wanted the past back, an impossible dream, as impossible as getting what he wanted, what he deserved. “Then it’s them with the problem, I’d just as soon we were all left to our own lives.”

“Perhaps I’m growing tired of running.” he was tired of so much lately, so he’d thought to ignore it all for this one sunny day and try to fall bak into old times but… no. Even that was denied him, albeit in a more pleasant way than he’d expected. He chuckled softly before opening a small section of freezer that was separate to the others and pulled out a small tub, “Buttered rum ice cream, made with the real stuff, the alchol makes the ice cream softer and easier to scoop due to it’s low freezing point.” he explained softly, “Yes.” Egrid looked away, “Very badly.” He’d killed his brother. “Why bother looking at all then? If your playground is safe and there’s likely to be little left of her as you put it?”

Egrid handed over the small tub and tilted his head slightly, “You assume I’d be so willing to tell it.” The only person who’d heard the truth of his past was Isaac and well… the poor boy took his history to the grave. “No, you don’t seem the type.” he said, eyeing the other with perhaps a tiny touch of humour in his gaze.   

“O, I know it’s true. Sometimes it’s just worth that price.” Although he doubted if he would turn back time. Yeah, he would be able to undo some of his really stupid mistakes, but generally it wouldn’t be worth it... Then he shook his head. “There’s a good remedy for that... just stop caring and you don’t lose anything along the way.” He smirked. “And the biggest thing I lost can be solved by something simple...” He held up his hand with his daylight ring. Not being able to walk in the sun was a pretty harsh price for immortality, but that could be solved. The eternal hunger... well, he had learned to live with that. “And hey... I still have my brother to annoy, so...” He still had the most important person for him. “Love?” He frowned. “and you think you get that by sacrificing someone? That sounds pretty... crazy... you do realize that?” He shrugged. “Just stop caring about them. Trust me, it solves a lot.” Then again, this kid didn’t have that very handy humanity switch that had helped Damon so often. “Yup... they are the problem. They just love taking that out on me. Well... not anymore. Not here, at least.”

“Well, if it’s running or being killed, I think I’d know what I’d choose...” Then again, sometimes you just needed to take a stand and take what was coming to you. He had tried that when Klaus was coming for Elena. He had failed spectacularly, but he had tried, he hadn’t ran. “You’ve got to be kidding me...”, he sighed, but he couldn’t help but laugh. “What happened to just having strawberry and chocolate flavours?” He took the cup, even when he had made a joke earlier. If the guy delivered, he couldn’t do anything but eat it anyway. “That sucks...”, he said while he took a first scoop of the ice cream. Which... wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be, even when he still didn’t get why some people needed to freeze everything when the pure stuff was so much better. “Because I don’t want to risk her getting away with it...” Then he grinned. “And because I like giving her a few threats before Marcel gets to her. I don’t appreciate being used as puppet.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I’m too used to people who want to put all their misery on me. If you’re not that... well, all the better for the both of us.” He didn’t need more people’s misery. He had enough of his own. He grinned. “Well, at least we have that much clear.”

[dark-salvatore]

hbiccarolineforbes:

Care: You’re unbearable. Where is she?

Damon: I know. It’s part of my charm Damon: As far as I know at home Damon: Or in school

[dark-salvatore]

courageouscami:

“The city itself? Or the people in it?” She asked.

A magnet... No, she hadn’t thought of New Orleans that way, because she’d been too busy agonizing over the possibility that she was losing her damn mind. But as Cami turned his words over in her head, she wondered whether there could be some truth to them. It was hard to think of her own personal connection to New Orleans, because thus far, it had always revolved around other people. Growing up, it was what she associated with her Uncle Kieran. Later, it was Sean. What did this city mean to her?.. She’d never really wondered before.

“Going on three years.” Cami admitted, before shooting him a frown when he mocked her. “Sure I’ve noticed the funerals, but to be fair, it’s hard not to notice when every second one seems to earn a freakin’  p a r t y  in this city. I’m sure if death was celebrated this much in other States people would be a lot more aware of just how frequently it happens. That,” She continued, “- and the fact that before New Orleans I spent all my life in Tennessee. Not exactly the Death State, so by comparison, most cities I’ve visited tend to have higher death rates.” It was a morbid topic, and the realization made her grimace, until Damon chalked it glibly up to something in the air. “Right, like the bubonic plague and maybe, for some reason, no one’s detected it.” She deadpanned with an eye-roll. “Don’t belittle me, Damon. If you know something - Spill.”. But maybe he didn’t know. Maybe it was a variety of contributing factors. After all, there was a drug and alcohol culture in the city. That, coupled with the lax law-abiding attitudes and the steady crime rate, probably had something to do with it. Damon wasn’t an epidemiologist, maybe it was unfair of her to ask and expect an honest answer.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t care much about people, so that shouldn’t matter. But...” He didn’t finish the sentence, but he knew he had returned for Elena and Stefan, that they were the reason he was staying while he should leave and build up a live in... well, anywhere else, as long as he was far away from Klaus and that entire family. He didn’t need to hold up his facade as a loving family man for Cami anymore, but he couldn’t really deny that he somehow cared for some people. 

He shook his head. “Trust me... black cars blocking the streets stand out as well. And even in New York I haven’t seen as many of them as here... I’ve lived practically everywhere, so I have a bit more material to compare it with than Tennessee...” That was a place he had never lived and he didn’t plan on it either. Just the name sounded awfully boring already. He needed a bit more life around him, so it wouldn’t be noticed if he would bring some death to it. Drunk people, people who were partying... they got lost easily without search parties going out immediately. Which probably was partly why New Orleans had such a pull on the supernatural community. “Nah... no plague, or we’d put away all the sick far, far away. People are not very comfortable around that, you know.”, he quipped, before he started to laugh. “And why do you think I know more? What do you want to hear. Yes, Cami, there happens to be a high number of serial killers in this town and I happen to know all of them?” , he mocked. It happened to be pretty close to the truth, but it sounded kind of ridiculous. “People probably go missing easily when they drank more than is good for them... which happens a lot around here.”

[dark-salvatore]

todayitwillbedifferent:

She doesn’t need to look up to know that Damon is skeptical – if not downright against what she wants to do. Whether he’s trying to bring a healthy sense of realism to the situation, or it’s something else entirely, Elena finds she doesn’t care. She isn’t being naïve, she knows that bringing Stefan back isn’t going to easy. But he has to be in there somewhere, buried beneath everything and for a second she could have sworn, maybe just before he had buried his teeth into her neck, that he cared.

Blowing out a huff, Elena can’t stop herself from shooting Damon an unimpressed look. “He’s still in there, Damon. He wouldn’t give up on any of us.” She believes it with every fiber of her being. “I’m not going to give up on him.”

Not that she has a plan – yet.

His words cause her to pause, and maybe even frown a little. Maybe she should, he certainly has done horrible – terrible things. “I don’t hate you,” the words are filled with soft honesty, and a part of the brunette feels guilty because…Shouldn’t she? Looking up at the vampire Elena hesitates, only for a second, before she nods and smiles and takes his offered hand. “Thanks, Damon.”

“O yeah, he’s in there. Buried very deep under what he’s become now...” He sighed. “He’s not the guy you got to know over the past few years, Elena... yeah, he might have slipped up from time to time, but he’s completely immersed in it now. Even when you can pull him out, he’ll need a lot of time to recover from that...” First of all the physical part... the whole urge to kill everyone within his reach, including Elena.

And even if Stefan would manage to get over that part fast, by some kind of miracle, there would be the part where he would drown in his own guilt. Damon had just chosen not to care about what he did, while Stefan... well, his brother had never been good at that. “He has given up. He attacked you, doesn’t that say enough? I have no idea if it was his own choice or not, but that doesn’t matter... Stefan is gone for now...”

I don’t hate you. It shouldn’t have that much of an influence on him, the way this human girl thought about him, but somehow it felt like there was a weight lifted from his shoulders. He didn’t want her to hate him, even when he had done enough to warrant that hate. Very often to save his own life, but still... that didn’t make his actions any better. He smiled back at her when he felt her little, warm hand in his and he wrapped his hand around hers, before stepping over the threshold. “Come on... let’s get you fitted. Unfortunately you can’t graduate without those hideous things they insist on dressing you in.”

[dark-salvatore]

todayitwillbedifferent:

Elena didn’t bother answering Damon’s question, it didn’t sound like he really needed a response when he clearly had a good read on the situation. Graduation seems underwhelming, and something that isn’t as important- not in the grand scheme of things anyway. But it is too, the brunette knows that too, thanks to her own logic she’s used in trying to convince Jeremy to recognize and take pride in the achievements, in the happiness when they can.

It’s hard, when it feels like more than just poor timing.

“You can say his name, Damon.” She can’t deny that it stings, that her mind has been constantly thinking of him wondering if he was safe, if he was okay. She can still see his face, feel his teeth as they pierce her neck until Klaus had appeared. Just hearing his name won’t break her. “We’ll find Stefan and…” She trails off, leaving it at that, because what else can she say? Bring him back? Bring him home? Elena can’t give up on him. She won’t.

“I don’t know.” She does, but a part of her still isn’t ready to cross the threshold, to celebrate a graduation when everything feels like it’s come off of the tracks. There’s a pause, and Elena looks at Damon almost sheepishly – “No.” She can’t bail out, not now. “I can’t.”

He shrugged. He knew he could say Stefan’s name. He was the last one to give in to sentimentalities like that, but somehow it felt wrong, bringing Stefan up when he was out doing... well, what Stefan in this state did best. “And what? Bring him back?” He knew what she didn’t say. He also knew that Elena hadn’t thought this through, not really. He knew Stefan when he was like this. He knew how long it took to get back to who he was. And he knew that Elena did not have the luxury of time to wait for that to happen. But today wasn’t the day to bring that up. 

“I don’t think that’s gonna be as easy as it sounds, ok? He doesn’t want to be brought back... that’s kind of the problem.” Sane Stefan hated the Ripper part of him, but when he was truly, completely in Ripper mode, he didn’t want to go back.

A faint smile crept on his face when she decided not to give up. Not because he cared about some dumb graduation ceremony, but because that was the Elena he had gotten to know. And like. She didn’t give up, not when all the odds were against her. He admired that part of her. Sometimes he was even jealous of it. “I know you probably still hate me, but...” He offered her his hand. “Is it easier not to walk in alone?”

[soulofsundae]

Cast-Off || Open

[dark-salvatore]

soulofsundae:

“It wouldn’t be that simple, nothing ever is.” he said softly, not reacting to the sarcasm but a sigh soon following, “If there’s one thing I learned about witchcraft it’s that all magic comes with a price. Had I known in this case what the price truly was then I wouldn’t have paid it.” But he’d been blinded by his own desperate hopes, and now there was nothing left worse preserving safe his own selfish need to keep living. “I’m sure there are others out there who’d be more than willing to place blame for wanted that.” His remaining brother, Marcel, that werewolf to name a few. “You really don’t like witches very much do you? Why loiter on the thought, it’s only words and you know better than anyone who and what you truly are.” If the vampire was content with his life then it wasn’t as though he or any other witches had room to judge.

“Not everyone,” he smiled wryly, “The humans around here like me. For my ice cream if little else, but… the supernatural community is hardly a fan, those that know of me, anyway.” It wasn’t like he was impacting enough to make large waves, Sophie was the real star of their gruesome performance; he’d simply assisted in setting the stage. “I can understand the wrath that comes from harming someone’s brother, better than almost anyone.” He’d taken his brother’s life, accidentally, and his remaining sibling hadn’t thought before aiming that shotgun at him. “You may have to get in line though, she’s probably the only person in this city with more to fear from vampire’s than myself right now.”

Egrid inclined his head slightly, “I thought it might be. I’m remorseful, not suicidal.” his quiet words were followed by yet another sigh. There was going to be an end to this with time, thinking just how much was the hard part; as though there were an hourglass hanging over his head, more grains of sand falling with every passing second. He looked back up at Damon and held his gaze for several seconds before nodding, “Yes. But that’s a very long and unhappy story.”    

“Yes, yes, everything comes with a price, I’ve heard it all, over and over again.” If there was anything Bonnie Bennett was good at, it was preaching about what it would cost her and nature and who knows what else to do what she had to do, while he was usually just waiting, trying not to yawn and hoping she would finally get to the action part of it. “So you regret what you’ve done? What was your goal, by the way? Get magic back? That was worth a kid’s life?” Ok.... they had probably counted on them coming back to life again, but come on... how stupid were they? That just didn’t happen... not without vampire’s blood, at least. He shrugged. “Of course everyone blames you for wanting to stay alive. They do the same with me. I just don’t care about them.” At least Jenna hadn’t been a kid. And she hadn’t died... not by Klaus’ hand, at least. Although Damon had expected exactly that to happen when he brought her there. “Well... judged by the number of headaches your kind has given me, it’s more than just words...”

“Well... that doesn’t sound too bad then. If you can outrun those who want to kill you.” He looked at the ice cream stand again, still deciding against having one, unless... “You don’t happen to have ice cream with alcohol, don’t you? That’s the only exception on not wanting anything I’m willing to make.” He frowned. “You saw someone hurt your brother?” Then he chuckled. “I’m already in that line, ok? I’m not crossing Marcel on this... I’ll take my chances after he’s done with her, but I’m pretty sure there’s nothing left for me then...” He shrugged again. “Well... I get to keep my life and my playground around here, so I guess that’s only fair.”

He thought for a moment if he was in for a story like that. “Well... I’m not a shrink and I’m not sitting at a bar with a glass of bourbon, so I think I’ll pass on the sobstory... I’m not the one to get a sympathetic reaction from anyway, so...”

[isaac--lahey]

If heaven’s grief brings hell’s reign...: OPEN

[isaac--lahey]

dark-salvatore:

“Well, not exactly your brother…” It was Davina, he knew that, but he had the feeling that the entire ritual hadn’t sat right with Marcel. One of the rules he had always held high had been the kids rule, and that was exactly what Sophie had done. Kill kids. “He wasn’t the only one there, you know. And if he doesn’t do it, I might. I don’t like her either.” Blackmail didn’t sit well with him, after all. Especially blackmail involving his brother. “Yup, just don’t the street. You’ll recognize it when you see it. Those tombs are kind of hard to miss.”, he winked.

“Yes, I recall many lives were lost that night.” He nodded along, but his thoughts were not on the children that had been sacrificed, but on the woman who had completed the ritual. She seemed to have accumulated many enemies very quickly. Survival brought desperation and desperation typically led to poor choices. He grinned, stuffing his hands in his pockets before starting towards where the other directed.. “Thanks mate, appreciate it.”

[bloodlustnlove]

[dark-salvatore]

courageouscami:

“I don’t need  l u c k , I just need conviction.” Cami told him matter-of-factly, rejecting the wish because she doubted its sincerity. Still, she couldn’t help but be amused with his momentary honesty when he admitted that their run-in was more like bad luck for him. Good, it served him right for pulling her chains and being a dick to Sophie.

And yet for all her insouciance, Cami gave pause when Damon stated that Death seemed to have an affinity for New Orleans. He was just the latest resident to hint as much, and Cami was beginning to see the pattern. “Why is that?” She stopped him, looking up to meet his gaze this time. There was no sarcasm or playfulness in her tone now. “Why does Death lurk around the corner, particularly in New Orleans? Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“If you believe that... I don’t know how it’s for you, but for me this city is like some kind of magnet... it keeps pulling me back.” And ok, those months that he had spent outside of the city, he hadn’t gone far. He hadn’t really tried to build up a new life. He had just tried to forget and that wasn’t the best way to really start over, but the moment he had returned, he was sucked back into the drama of New Orleans almost immediately. And somehow that whirlpool decided it was time to get him and blondie together as well. Exactly what he was waiting for. He frowned for one moment... another attempt to get out of her where Sophie would be, probably wouldn’t work. Pity...

He stopped when she suddenly seemed startled. Somehow he had expected her to have picked up more of what was going on here by now. She was friends with Sophie, the customers at her bar were... well... for a big part not human. She seemed to be pretty naive that she didn’t get it by now. “O, come on. You live here...” He stopped himself with a grin. “Sorry, you’ve lived her for... how long? Years? I’m not sure how much material you have to compare it with, but the rest of the world doesn’t have this many funerals. It’s probably why they made a party out of it, because otherwise life would just be downright depressive. Why?” He shrugged. “Maybe it’s just something in the air here... makes people die faster...”

[soulofsundae]

Cast-Off || Open

[dark-salvatore]

soulofsundae:

“Of course I did.” he said quietly, “I don’t anyone but myself, I’m not looking for pity. I know exactly what I did; if I could I’d take it back but… even for witches I think rewriting the past is impossible.” If it were he’d likely change a great deal more than simply poor Isaac’s untimely end. “No, I don’t blame them either. Though, forgive my self-preservation for not wishing to die myself.” A vampire. They were immortal (to a degree) having escaped death in that form he supposed fear of death must be different to this man’s mind. “Witches treat vampires that way?” he asked quietly, a slight frown in his face, “I didn’t know. And you’re right, it does seem hypocritical.” He wasn’t raised in witchcraft, but a vampire didn’t always murder, at least not as they’d done, as he’d been privy too.  

“Well, either way I’m happy to have one less person out there for my head right now.” The list wasn’t exactly long but having a list like that at all was something of a concern. A concern that kept him up most nights of gave him nightmares when sleep won. “It would appear so. I can’t hold what she did against her, I didn’t exactly stop to read the fine print when she told me what she required.” his quiet voice hardly carrying between them. He’d been too desperate to think too hard and it had cost him his conscience and his magic. “I wouldn’t betray her, but I see no harm in telling you I don’t know where she is. Though, for what it’s worth, Sophie thought she was doing the right thing. Her intentions were better than mine in that regard.” (@sophie-deveraux​) Even if she hadn’t told him the complete truth. “In your eyes I suppose it won’t make a difference.” he thought of his brothers, “The road to hell, as they say.”

He shrugged, “It’s a risk I seem to be taking; it’s either that or deliver myself to Marcel. That seems even more frightening.” At least if Marcel sought him out it meant he’d have a chance to talk before an attempt on his life… or so he hoped. Taking a deep breath he let out a sigh and looked back at Damon, “Not this day at least.” he was quiet for several beats before nodding, “Yes,” his voice practically inaudible, “But I’ve had years to get used to the feeling.” He still had one more brother out there.

That was one thing this kid did worse than he did. Damon had been forced to do what he had done. Maybe not literally, but with the life of his brother depending on his actions, it felt like Sophie had forced his hand. “Well, if someone will come up with a way to rewrite the past, I guess it’s you lot. Or not, because it would be a huge unnatural thing, of course...” He couldn’t help but say the last words in a mocking tone. He shrugged. “No one wants to die. I don’t blame anyone trying to stay alive.” It’s what he had done pretty much his entire life as well. And yeah... he had done some things to achieve that that he wasn’t proud of. Jenna was just the last example of that urge that came to his mind. He nodded. “You don’t want to know how often I’ve heard the whole abomination of nature thing. Sounds kind of empty now, coming from the same species who sacrificed kids to keep their power.” No, he wasn’t better than witches. He killed and he enjoyed what he was doing. He just wasn’t painting himself better than he was. He was the bad guy and he was fine with it. It was the part he played best, after all.

“You’re just assuming that everyone there is out to kill you?” He thought for a moment and came to the conclusion that it might not even be that wrong. Marcel did want to blame something for what happened there, and Klaus... well, it was safest to assume he was always out to kill someone. At least, that was Damon’s experience. Sophie would be on this guy’s side, but he had no idea where the witch was and how trustworthy she was, now she was target number one of a few people. He huffed. “I couldn’t care less about her intentions. Everyone always means well, but that doesn’t change what happened. She hurt my brother and that wasn’t some kind of accident. She’ll pay for that.” He didn’t forgive and forget. Especially not someone like Sophie.

He chuckled. “Delivering yourself to him sounds like a dumb move.” That much he had to give the guy. He had no idea how forgiving Marcel would be for him, but walking into the lion’s den after you helped killing his cub was one of the stupidest things you could do. Marcel knew where to find Damon, which was probably the reason why he visited so soon. “Several years?” He was surprised... The guy still seemed young. “Someone wanted to kill you before all of this?”