Hands Like Roses

Natalia Mariano - Vampire - 18/74 - Sired by Henri - Younger Sister of Luciana & Twin of Emilia - Soulmate of Isambard

[whatsofialivesfor]

She smiled warmly at the younger woman. This seethe was her family but Natalia, from the moment she'd arrived, had felt more truly like her little sister than any of the others. To say she adored her felt like an understatement. "Thank you Natalia, that means a lot,"

"Oh!" Sofia pulled Natalia into a hug, "I'm so very please, and relieved for you," it had been painful to watch it happen, to see how it had effected her over the months. She let go, pulling back so she could give her a slightly cheeky smile, "Perhaps now then, with those rifts healed, mine won't be the only wedding dress we are shopping for before too long,"

[dearest-darling-nat]

"I do love you so very much, you know?" Natalia's words were sudden, but no less true than they always would be. "With everything as uncertain as it's been, I almost feel like we ought to say that more frequently." Because eternity no longer felt like a certainty in the face of their extended family's anguish and endangerment. But it made her value her time with them all the more.

The hug held such welcome warmth that Natalia nearly teared up. It was so lovely to feel that comfort of connection between them, especially now that things in some ways had mended in their seethe. The comment about dress shopping would have made her blush in a different life, but she offered Sofia a bashful smile all the same. "I should be lucky if that is the case. But even if it isn't, I'll be the first to admire all of the options Zehra crafts with you as her muse."

[augustine-vampire-enzo]

Enzo busied himself with uncorking the bottle. "Well of course she needs time." He muttered. "She's only just realized her feelings." And didn't that suck to admit. "Then my sorry arse goes in and further complicates things for her. No...Emilia will have all the time she needs. Obviously. Where am I going to go?"

He poured himself a glass and gestured to the bottle, asking if she'd like some as well. "Stubborn little thing, isn't she?" But even in this context, thinking of her made him smile despite himself. "But...what a beautiful spirit. All of you girls. Your own flames. Emi though...Emi brings the light to all my darkness. Isn't that some cheese? Don't tell her I said so because I'll just deny it. Have to keep something left of my manly dignity."

He slumped a bit, fixated on their clasped hands. "I suppose I've just grown tired. Not of Emi. Never of her. Of not being enough. As absurd as it is. I've kept her alive up to now. So obviously I do my job. But of being enough, for her."

[dearest-darling-nat]

"You're too harsh on yourself. Declarations of eternal love do not make you a villain," Natalia reassured, moving back to sit beside him and nodding at the offer for a glass of the wine.

Watching the way Enzo's expression softened as he spoke of Emi made Natalia practically beam. It was the very sort of love that she'd wished for her sister, and to be privy to their bond was a great gift. She did have to laugh a bit at his latter words. "Why, you think just because she’s my sister that I may not also be able to keep secrets from her? If anything that’s something of an art between siblings. And I should hate to betray your trust in telling me, in any case."

Her face fell a bit then. He didn't see the truth through all of the miscommunications, but then again who could blame him? "You are more than enough, Enzo. It is only that Emilia has never found it easy to realize how dedicated she is to people," she explained. "Luciana and I are her sisters, her very blood, so that devotion has always been something to expect and accept. But everyone else has snuck up on her, in their own ways."

"She leads with love, more than she’ll ever admit. You all have been her truest devotions for almost as long as she’s known you. She would fight for you, she would kill for you, even die for you if that was in question. But to know that’s now true for so very many people leaves her shaken."

"Emi is far more fearful of death than anything else, regardless of what it may seem. Loss too, of course, as they travel hand in hand." She gave Enzo's hand another squeeze then. "And with you… Your death would shatter her completely. Even as you are now. I think she cares to deny that fact, to think herself stronger than that, or to believe that her remaining upright after such a thing would be more likely if you weren’t her husband. But you and I both know that she’d lose herself all the same, married or not."

Natalia sighed, a sad sort of smile tugging at her lips. "It’s not logical by most people’s respects, I grant you, but I do understand her. She just needs to realize it won’t alter the course, only enrich it."

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia bit back a small smile. He was certainly over his limits but not in any way that truly worried her, and that allowed humor to take hold of the situation instead. She nodded her head in the direction of a cabinet just behind him. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but there’s blood-laced Cabernet in there if it should suit your tastes a bit more… I won’t tell a soul that it was you who took it.”

[augustine-vampire-enzo]

Enzo made a slow swivel around behind him. Seeing the cabinet, a slow, sly smile spread across his face. But before he tore into that feast, he turned back to Natalia. "Yer such a babe..." He told her, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "If we weren't both taken, and I wasn't bloody head over heels for Emilia, I'd snog you." He told her goofily. "Rotten shame she won't marry me. I'd make her happy."

[dearest-darling-nat]

The combined amusement of Enzo’s expression, sentiments, and the kiss to her cheek was enough to send Natalia into a brief fit of giggles. “I’m afraid that would land us into quite a bit of hot water,” she mused. Her expression fell a bit at his latter words though. She’d made note of the ring earlier when she brought Emi and Enzo to their room, of course, but she hadn’t brought herself to ask about it. And even in his humorous state, there was a sadness to such a statement.

She moved to the cabinet in question as a short silence fell on them, using the time to retrieve one of the aforementioned bottles of wine and handing it out to Enzo. “I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that she just needs time. Emilia does have rather a rotten habit of digging her heels in, or running from the things she wants. It’s how she’s always been.” Natalia reached out to take one of Enzo’s hands in hers, giving it a comforting squeeze. “But I also know she’s not marrying anyone else. And that you two will make each other very happy from that day forward, even more than you already do.”

[thelivingartofhenri]

In the Italian Seethe Kitchen

"I'd say being worried about someone is low price to pay for having people to love, and who love you,"

[dearest-darling-nat]

“A low price, but ever so heavy,” Natalia posited, though a small smile tugged at her lips. “Stefan insists we have no need to worry for his sake.”

[augustine-vampire-enzo]

Always alone...

Enzo hadn't wanted to leave Emi's side. But Erebus could comfort her in a way that he could not. And didn't that leave a sour taste in his mouth. He wasn't feeling very steady himself. That wouldn't do.

So he ventured to the kitchens. Which took an embracingly long amount of time after it occurred to him he wasn't at home. And how the hell was he supposed to know where Stefan's kitchen was? That, and he would never actually ask for directions. Ever.

He eventually found it. Thankfully, there was an entire cooler of blood bags, just there, out in the open. So he helped himself to a handful and seated himself on a stool and...inhaled them.

The problem with consuming so much blood in a very limited amount of time meant he ended up feeling pretty loopy. So when someone else entered the kitchen he didn't bother to move. "AB is a little sour." He muttered, tossing the half empty blood bag away from himself.

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia was far from being able to sleep yet given the stirred emotions of the night and the emotions that still clouded their home now. So she found herself making little rounds to check up on things. As foolish as it was, it did soothe her a bit. At least until she smelled blood emanating from the kitchen. She shouldn’t have ran the last little bit down the hallway really, should have expected it to be from blood bags and not one of her kin, but she still had sprinted to the site. But seeing Enzo only quelled her nerves a little bit, because while he seemed unharmed, he certainly was a bit past his limits and not entirely himself as a result. She glanced at the newly discarded blood bag in particular before really reacting to what he’d said. “Is that all we have? AB, I mean.”

[augustine-vampire-enzo]

He turned slowly towards her. “Now.” He answered slowly. Not so much for her benefit as the difficulty in making his tongue work properly.

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia bit back a small smile. He was certainly over his limits but not in any way that truly worried her, and that allowed humor to take hold of the situation instead. She nodded her head in the direction of a cabinet just behind him. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but there’s blood-laced Cabernet in there if it should suit your tastes a bit more… I won’t tell a soul that it was you who took it.”

[dearest-darling-nat]

Nat’s smile deepened at that, and she nudged Stefan’s side playfully. “And twice as many names on that list as there would normally be,” she mused. “But I’m safe right here anyways.”

She narrowed her eyes at him in a mock inspection before pointedly shaking her head and taking the offered popcorn. “No, but I know you well so there wasn’t a likelihood that I would,” she pointed out with a knowing sort of look. “I do hope you’re okay though. If I’m allowed to worry about such things.”

[steffy-is-the-perfect-soldier]

"It's getting rather crowded isn't it?" He mused, thought it brought him a sense of peace to have all his rooms occupied. That he was able to offer safety in such a time. It wasn't to say he expected any of this, even if Andre was prone to theatrics. They all deserved to be safe, even his brother. "We'll have to start using bunkbeds soon. Do you think Archer would object to sharing his living quarters?"

"That's almost a....compliment?" He raised a brow at her, showing her his fangs as she inspected him. "I would never deny you your worrying. But you should save it for the more deserving. I, my darling Natalia, am fine. I shall always be fine as a general rule." He kissed her head. "Speaking of....your sisters....how are they?"

[dearest-darling-nat]

“Just a little bit. But I don’t mind at all. It’s nice to have our family together.” Natalia laughed from her spot beside him, trying to envision bunk beds going over well with anyone. “I believe you’d be better asking Genevieve, Gisele, or Milo to share first. Although I don’t think Archer would truly object if it called for it.”

“Almost. But I’d sooner compliment you in other ways.” She curled up against Stefan as he spoke, humming contentedly at the kiss to her hair. “I, for one, think you are plenty deserving. You’re taking it all on your shoulders, after all. That’s bound to be tiresome.” The question about her sisters made her expression soften a bit, though not quite into sadness. “Luciana and Thomas have become attached at the hip at long last, which I hear you’re somewhat the catalyst for. Although she is troubling herself as Andre’s keeper—not that she’s been in to see him yet, for Emilia’s sake.” She sighed then. “And Emi is still caught in her mind, of course. But she is in better spirits than when she arrived last night. And safe in Enzo’s keeping… although I suspect she’s also troubling herself with him attempting to propose to her. She hasn’t breathed a word of it to me, but I noticed the ring on her locket.”

[tiasprotectedheart]

@ The sitting room of the Italian seethe

"Don't be silly, of course you can join me in here," she said making room on the sofa.

[dearest-darling-nat]

“I wouldn’t blame anyone seeking a bit of solitude is all,” Natalia explained, moving to sit next to Tia. “It has been rather a heavy time.”

[tiasprotectedheart]

"It has, which is all the more reason not to be alone," leaning forward she grabbed Natalia and pulled her into a cuddle

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia leaned into Tia’s arms, grateful for the comfort of the action. “I just wish we could do more to help them all. They’re in such emotional turmoil.”

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia, like all of her seethe, had been rather caught up in the effort of opening their home to Andre’s seethe, so much so that she’d nearly forgotten the earlier revelation she’d learned from Stefan. So only after things had seemed to calm down in the morning did she set about finding Sofia. She joined her in the sitting room, rather grateful to find that they were alone for the moment, sitting across from her on the window seat. “I hope it’s not ill-mannered of me to bring it up despite the rest of the night’s events, but I hope you know how elated I am for you and Stefan.”

@whatsofialivesfor

[whatsofialivesfor]

After a busy morning Sofia had decided to take a pause for a cup of tea. Setting herself up in the sitting room, in her favourite spot, she'd been rather pleased to find her solitude interrupted by Natalia.

"He told you?" She couldn't help but smile. "I must confess I wasn't sure when was the right time to tell everyone with all that's going on, but I'm so glad you know," she reached out for the younger vampires hand. "Thank you for your kind words,"

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia squeezed Sofia’s hand, unable to keep from smiling about the ring that was now on her left hand. “There’s never a time where I shouldn’t be happy for you both, even despite everything at present.”

“Stefan apologized to me as well. For all of the unpleasantness between us these last months. I thought you ought to know that.”

[augustine-vampire-enzo]

Always alone...

Enzo hadn't wanted to leave Emi's side. But Erebus could comfort her in a way that he could not. And didn't that leave a sour taste in his mouth. He wasn't feeling very steady himself. That wouldn't do.

So he ventured to the kitchens. Which took an embracingly long amount of time after it occurred to him he wasn't at home. And how the hell was he supposed to know where Stefan's kitchen was? That, and he would never actually ask for directions. Ever.

He eventually found it. Thankfully, there was an entire cooler of blood bags, just there, out in the open. So he helped himself to a handful and seated himself on a stool and...inhaled them.

The problem with consuming so much blood in a very limited amount of time meant he ended up feeling pretty loopy. So when someone else entered the kitchen he didn't bother to move. "AB is a little sour." He muttered, tossing the half empty blood bag away from himself.

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia was far from being able to sleep yet given the stirred emotions of the night and the emotions that still clouded their home now. So she found herself making little rounds to check up on things. As foolish as it was, it did soothe her a bit. At least until she smelled blood emanating from the kitchen. She shouldn’t have ran the last little bit down the hallway really, should have expected it to be from blood bags and not one of her kin, but she still had sprinted to the site. But seeing Enzo only quelled her nerves a little bit, because while he seemed unharmed, he certainly was a bit past his limits and not entirely himself as a result. She glanced at the newly discarded blood bag in particular before really reacting to what he’d said. “Is that all we have? AB, I mean.”

[tiasprotectedheart]

@ The sitting room of the Italian seethe

"Don't be silly, of course you can join me in here," she said making room on the sofa.

[dearest-darling-nat]

“I wouldn’t blame anyone seeking a bit of solitude is all,” Natalia explained, moving to sit next to Tia. “It has been rather a heavy time.”

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia hadn’t slept much, but that wasn’t entirely surprising given the upheaval to the evening. Even if she hadn’t borne witness to the unfolding of her sisters’ seethe, she’d heard enough from Luciana since to clarify the depth of suffering for all of them. And that sort of energy and emotion hung in the air around them now, palpable and saddening.

She’d gone to the TV room in search for distraction, if not company, so seeing Stefan there was a nice bonus. Because she still wanted to see that he was well. He would be the one bearing the brunt of the heaviness that surrounded them, after all.

Nat moved to curl up next to her maker, tucking her head on his shoulder. “I don’t think the time is much of a thing to trouble ourselves with today,” she replied, smiling a little even despite it all. “Although I can gather from that comment that you haven’t slept?”

[steffy-is-the-perfect-soldier]

Stefan hummed along with the opening credit of the next episode as Natalia made herself comfortable. "You know...I should play my disgruntled father role and tell you to not be wandering the halls of the seethe in the middle of the night. But..." He tilted his head to give her an amused expression. "Then I remember he a hall to hall full of vampires that would be more than willing to protect you. So alas...my job here is finished."

He passed her his half-eaten bowl of buttery popcorn. "If I told you I had, would you believe me?"

[dearest-darling-nat]

Nat’s smile deepened at that, and she nudged Stefan’s side playfully. “And twice as many names on that list as there would normally be,” she mused. “But I’m safe right here anyways.”

She narrowed her eyes at him in a mock inspection before pointedly shaking her head and taking the offered popcorn. “No, but I know you well so there wasn’t a likelihood that I would,” she pointed out with a knowing sort of look. “I do hope you’re okay though. If I’m allowed to worry about such things.”

[steffy-is-the-perfect-soldier]

After bringing the fiasco home with him. Stefan made sure Andre would be staying put… at least for the time being. Sofia tucked into his bed, another thing he doubted would stay very long and leaving his people to situate their guests with the utmost hospitality. Which he had no doubt they would.

After he unceremoniously raged a bit on the opposite end of the seethe he eventually succumbed to exhaustion and curled up in the tv room under a mount of blankets to watch Scooby Doo for a while.

He hadn’t locked himself in though. Because everyone needed to know he was available for anything. Pulling one of his blankets under his chin he glanced up at the opening door.

He made room for his visitor beside him on the couch. “I’d say good morning. But I don’t actually know what time it is.”

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia hadn’t slept much, but that wasn’t entirely surprising given the upheaval to the evening. Even if she hadn’t borne witness to the unfolding of her sisters’ seethe, she’d heard enough from Luciana since to clarify the depth of suffering for all of them. And that sort of energy and emotion hung in the air around them now, palpable and saddening.

She’d gone to the TV room in search for distraction, if not company, so seeing Stefan there was a nice bonus. Because she still wanted to see that he was well. He would be the one bearing the brunt of the heaviness that surrounded them, after all.

Nat moved to curl up next to her maker, tucking her head on his shoulder. “I don’t think the time is much of a thing to trouble ourselves with today,” she replied, smiling a little even despite it all. “Although I can gather from that comment that you haven’t slept?”

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia, like all of her seethe, had been rather caught up in the effort of opening their home to Andre’s seethe, so much so that she’d nearly forgotten the earlier revelation she’d learned from Stefan. So only after things had seemed to calm down in the morning did she set about finding Sofia. She joined her in the sitting room, rather grateful to find that they were alone for the moment, sitting across from her on the window seat. “I hope it’s not ill-mannered of me to bring it up despite the rest of the night’s events, but I hope you know how elated I am for you and Stefan.”

@whatsofialivesfor

[steffy-is-the-perfect-soldier]

The hug hadn't been completely unexpected. He shared many such affections with Natalia over the years. Though this one in particular made his heart ache and his eyes brim with tears. Clutching her tightly, he buried his face in her hair. Inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. He didn't even know what it was really. He never bothered to learn those sorts of things. But, it came to him as a comfort, nonetheless. He breathed in shakily, wrapping her up tightly in his embrace.

It didn't really matter what she said. Words never really meant much to him. Because they were distrustful. Manipulative. Sometimes even hurtful. He'd fallen victim to them many times in his long life. The shared affection between him and Natalia though, was as innocent and real as they came.

He could remember holding her that fateful night. She'd been so frail, so damaged. He cradled her against him as she died. Because no one deserved to be alone in those moments. Even if he knew she'd wake again. Turning had never come easily to Stefan. Every one of them holding permanent places in his heart. Which, Marsilia always warned him about. Loving people meant he had things to lose. Then he wouldn't be her perfect soldier. There were many reasons Stefan hated his maker. Hated her as much as he loved her, he realized.

The hug finally came to an end and he allowed her to pull away. He felt lighter now. Having apologized properly to her. He still needed to speak with Isambard. But that would be a tomorrow problem.

Touching Natalia's cheek, he smiled at her. "We have much to celebrate in our seethe. You and Isambard. And...Sofia and I are to be wed."

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia let out a sigh of relief as Stefan embraced her. Finally they were finding their way back to one another. She had been hoping for little else in the months since they'd drifted apart to begin with. It truly made her feel like she could breathe again, even in the needlessness of such a thing. But she'd missed this. She'd missed the security of Stefan's arms, and the way he set her anxieties at ease. She had missed being a family, even if she hadn't given up in thinking such a thing was possible.

After a long moment she pulled away from the hug, taking one of his hands into hers and holding it like a precious treasure. He would always be that and more. Her savior.

She leaned into his touch, mirroring his smile. But as he continued to speak Natalia found herself breaking into an all out surprised grin. "Are you truly?" She lauched herself into another hug with Stefan again, tossing her arms around his neck. "Oh, you're going to make me weep again, you brute!" The words were far from serious, and her giddy laughter more than proved it. As she pulled away again she pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. "I'm so pleased for you both... and what a joy to know you will be the ones to care for one another's hearts."

[whatsofialivesfor]

“Scusa?” She asked as she straightened from fixing her shoe, having not fully caught the persons words.

[dearest-darling-nat]

"You look beautiful," Natalia repeated, smiling fondly at Sofia. "I'm surprised that you aren't already taking to the dance floor."

[steffy-is-the-perfect-soldier]

"Not to my face...but I know of that little dart board you have in your room. The one with my face on it. Right between the eyes."

Once they were outside, Stefan crossed his arms, holding them at the elbows. "Yes well. My silence is the only thing keeping me from sinking into the damned hole I keep digging for myself." He muttered moodily.

It was a hard thing, to apologize to someone for loving them. Well, not loving them in the literal sense. But loving too much. Holding one too close when all they wanted to be was free. "This isn't what it was supposed to be like." He confessed. "This little family we have." He clarified. "Vampires are meant to be solitary creatures. Their seethes, minions to do their bidding or what have you. None of us got the damn thing right though. Not me, not Andre, Wulfe...well. Who knows about him. Even Zehra and William love their people. Its sick really. How five seethes can coexist in one city." He was rambling, and he knew he was. If only to give himself a moment to school his emotions.

"What I mean is..." He said, turning to face Natalia. "I never meant to keep you so closely contained. I realize now that when I thought I was protecting you...all I did was keep you from being able to stand on your own two feet. Same for Isambard. The two of you mean the world to me. And..." He shrugged his shoulders. "I am a fool because what better person could there be for you? Your person just happens to be one of my people. This should make me happy...but all I feel is sad. Lonely. Because my heart is breaking into different pieces going in all these different directions. But its not about that. It's about you. It's about Isambard. If that is what you want....then damned be what anyone else thinks. Even me."

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia held silent at the sight of Stefan's evident distress—if that was even the word necessarily. He’d been quite off kilter about one manner or another in the months since things had come to light regarding her and Isambard. Even still Natalia would keep herself open like this to him, even in the face of those moments where he lashed out in his anger and cut her deeper than he ever had before. But wounds heal, given time, and she had an eternity of that, and an infinite well of love for her maker.

The notion that seethes were ever unlike the ones Natalia was surrounded by was not entirely unknown to her—of course if one counted those that lived in the charge of Niklaus Mikaelson it would be all the clearer that sometimes seethes were strung together with a much more tenuous thread. But even still, to have so many of them who defied the solitude, who chose each other in the end, that surely would have been a comfort. At least it was to Natalia, as she wouldn’t trade her family for the world. And yet Stefan seemed all the more distressed for that fact--for the life he'd fashioned for himself and his children.

Natalia felt her lip begin to tremble as Stefan spoke, with the way he seemed so at war with his own thoughts and feelings. She walked over to Stefan slowly, bringing her hand up to gently trace his cheek. "We all stand on our own two feet. You think too harshly of yourself. You are fiercely protective, but only in the ways you've had every cause to be... the circumstances you've saved us from, the states you've found us in. How could you not be ever caught in the worries of our welfare," she pondered aloud. And she meant every word of it. "I don't wish you to be sad, or lonely for that matter. And it may be beyond my power or control to fix either... but I want to try. Because I do love you, you know. We both do. We all do, your family. And even if you are it's head you should not feel the need to shoulder everything alone. Even if we aren't meant to be as we are, even if it's outlandish or strange, we are your family. Let us be here, Stefan. That's all any of us ever want." She wrapped her arms around his neck then, pulling him down into a tight hug as she tried to avoid breaking into a proper fit of tears. "I'll always care what you think, Stefan. Just as I shall always hold you dear in my heart."

[dimi-likes-pretty-things]

"Ah..." He smiled a pleased little smile. "Well, my darling Natalia. What a fool I would be to stand in the way of such tradition. Especially when it allows me to indulge myself in more of your company." He led her out onto the dance floor, bowing once more as customary before placing a modest hand on her waist and wrapping his long fingers around her delicate hand. At her comment, he laughed airily. "Oh...I'm afraid I've not had a suitor in..." He paused to consider, "decades it would seem."

[dearest-darling-nat]

Natalia leaned into Dimitri's side as they walked, imbuing further evidence of her affection towards him in the action. "Induldge all you like, for I'm looking forward to doing the same." She adored Dimitri, saw him as family even if he wasn't a part of her seethe. And besides that fact, he was one of the most marvelous dancers she'd ever had the pleasure of dancing with. She curtsied again before allowing her free hand to come to its resting place atop Dimitri's shoulder. She frowned a touch at the response to her comment, but soon regained a smile as she cast a small glance to the other party guests around them. "Is tonight not a perfect sort of opportunity to be courted then? I shouldn't rule it out if I were you."