broken crown

better not to breathe than to breathe a lie

[demartcl]

✧.* { ALFIE ALLEN & HE/HIM & CIS MALE & 25/1000 } is that TRISTAN DE MARTEL hanging around town ? I wonder if they want to know what the future holds, as for right now, they are a  NEW LOCAL TO MCKINLEY ? i’ve heard they can be pretty ARROGANT. how typical for a VAMPIRE. i guess they must rely on their REGAL side shining through. rumor has it they’re trying to hide LOOKING FOR A WAY TO LOCK THE ORIGINALS AWAY SO THEIR SIRELINES WILL NEVER DIE , but that’s probably just noise…

As a child, Tristan had understood the world in which they lived fairly fast. Their mother had been declared ‘mentally ill’ for loving another woman. She was shamed by society and her lover was murdered. Tristan watched his mother fall into illness, eventually taking her own life. Though only a child, Tristan begged his father to tell Aurora a different tale. To which the man eventually agreed. He vowed he would never allow himself to succumb to illness or allow such thing to happen to his sister. 

It was a servant by the name of Lucien Castle that brought such ‘illness’ to the forefront. It resulted in Tristan turned his self loathing to outer loathing of the man. Casual cruelty turned into righteous anger when he found Lucien supposedly having an ‘affair’ with the very sister he had sworn to protect. Tristan saw the same illnesses within her he had seen in their mother and he feared it, he had to protect her. 

It resulted in mutilation and murder. Lucien became the first vampire. He survived his first death, as did Tristan’s ire not only for Lucien but for the Mikaelsons who had aided him in what Tristan perceived as betrayal. Especially for Elijah Mikaelson, who’s manner and regal regard had Tristan infatuation with admiration, envy and respect. 

In the year 1002, Tristan was turned into a vampire by Elijah. He, along with Lucien and Aurora, were compelled in believe that they were the Mikaelson siblings, and were used as a diversion for Mikael to hunt while his children escaped to Tuscany. However, in the year 1114, they were released from the compulsion via the daggering of Elijah by the Brotherhood of the Five. Enraged, the three swore an oath of their own; an oath of vengeance against the family that had ruined their lives.

After Elijah had created The Strix, in hopes of a building a better future for the world, he was forced to flee from the society when Mikael came for him. Tristan arrived in the aftermath of the attack and took command the of The Strix, forging them into a violent secret society responsible for conducting world events from behind the scenes.

The passing of years and revolution of man brought towards revelation for Tristan, and his own perception of himself. Coming to accept himself, Tristan still struggled to accept his own little sister’s illness. Fearful she’d take her life like their mother had (like Aurora had already done once before), Tristan would often resort to keeping tabs and watch upon her. 

[demartcl]

HAYLEY MARSHALL / @becomingfractured​​

  ‘ yeah and respecting honesty doesn’t then extend to respecting you now does it ? ’ this connection she had to the other didn’t mean she had respect for him either. in fact it infuriated her, regardless of it being the sole reason she was still standing here today. @demartcl​

“i suppose i could do without your respect,” tristan began, almost as a musing. “but i do very much hope, respect or not, you understand why i’ve done the things i’ve done.” regardless of his own feelings, of morality, tristan needed to ensure the future of his loved ones, the people he was responsible for, and if it cost hayley marshall’s respect then so be it. 

[demartcl]

@hoaxwings​ / atlas campbell

“for me, success is not about the wins and losses.”

[demartcl]

@becomingfractured​ / hayley marshall​

“what? thought you respected honesty.”

[demartcl]

LUCIEN CASTLE. 

.

The fact that Tristan was jumping straight to threats only meant that he still cared and that was the only confirmation that Lucien needed to be able to sleep well when his head hit the pillow later. He had been worried during his time in limbo that perhaps he had wounded their relationship beyond all repair but the fact that he could still get this kind of rise out of his oldest ally? Well, that was a good sign if he’d ever seen one. “Don’t get all huffy, love. We both know that you missed me far too much for any of that.” It wasn’t fair for him to taunt Tristan this way, he knew that. The man in front of him had made it evident years ago that he wanted nothing more than Lucien’s full time and attention and everything could be simple. Easy. The only thing standing in the way of Lucien’s happiness with Tristan was Lucien himself. Knowing this didn’t make the matter any easier to cope with, though, and he was willing to push his luck. He had just returned from the dead, after all. Surely luck was on his side for the time being? 

“I want you to say it,” Lucien whispered, taking a step closer to Tristan. His eyes were locked onto those of his companion, unblinking and intense. There was a sincerity in his tone that hadn’t been there in years and he wondered if Tristan noticed it. It was clear just in the haste with which he refused the prospect of Lucien perishing once more that there was more than just friendship between them, but he wanted Tristan to finally admit it. “You don’t want me to go off on my own, make the same mistakes, get another dagger in my heart? Fine. I’ll play it your way, do it smart, all logic and boring planning instead of passion and revenge schemes and I just want one thing in return.” His hand found Tristan’s chest, pushing him backwards once more into the same wall that they had crashed into just minutes before. “I want your confession. I want you to say it, out loud, once and for all.” 

.

There were times that Tristan enjoyed Lucien’s bravado and other times when it made him want to jam something through someone’s eye. A strangers, an enemy, Lucien’s, maybe even his own if Lucien was prattling badly enough. This was one of those latter occasions. “I don’t know what you’re prattling on about.” He denied. Denial was a comfortable suit to wear, Tristan found. Denying love led to less pain at the inevitable loss of it. Elijah was a clear example. Lucien was an example that simply hadn’t happened yet but if he took queues from the past it was clear Lucien was marching to his death one way or another Tristan’s intervention be damned. Then there was Aurora, the one suit of denial that wouldn’t fit. A pain that was destined to break him, which was why Tristan fought so hard against it, to save her. Part of him wanted to believe Lucien was worth shedding the suit of denial, but he also knew Lucien. On the small chance Lucien loved him the same back, he was still as stubborn as a mule, more reckless then the worst of fools. A denied love could die with Lucien, a mutual love would live even if Lucien did not. Tristan didn’t know if it was worth living with that pain, that love. Truthfully, Tristan feared risking it. 

“Say what?” A pause, understanding washing over Tristan much like the black plague. Though his skin didn’t change he felt undeniably green. “You must be joshing.” For the calmness he presented, the slide into older speech showed just how startled such a request made him. Lucien took a step closer, and without even thought, Tristan took a step opposite-- his back almost hitting the wall, and feeling CAUGHT in more ways then only one. He couldn’t even say what stole him off guard more, Lucien actually speaking of it or the sincerity in which came the request. For all the instinct to berate Lucien that no, ensuring we live and don’t make enemies that chase around for the rest of our eternal life is not boring--- not even Tristan could find the focus for it. Not when Lucien’s gaze pierced him so fully. This time he did hit the wall, Lucien’s hand on his heart and Tristan wondered if the other man understood simply how much of it he already owned. That that same hand on his chest, over his heart, possessed so much of it unknowingly. That allowing the truth to be spoken into the world also allowed it to break. If it was kept in silence Tristan could break in silence too. 

Why did he have to fall in love with such a bloody bastard?

His heart didn’t need to beat but typically Tristan allowed it out of habit. In that same habit, his heart was beating so fast if he needed to breath he wouldn’t have been able to. “You want to hear it?” Tristan didn’t. It meant his own embarrassment, his own shame, his own weakness. A bigger weakness stood before him though. The man he would become if Lucien did die. The man who couldn’t bare to go on, who would inevitably fail his sister. “Fine.” The word was curt with a flux of both anger and hurt in the mix. “Then listen well because I’ll only admit it once.” That stupid heart of his. Falling for an idiot. Pounding. “When we were human.... as a human, it’d been easier to hate you. Then we turned into monsters, and no longer was the choice so bloody easy.” A hand swept over Tristan’s face, and he looked anywhere but Lucien himself. “It wasn’t a choice at all, you asshole.” He didn’t typically fall into such vulgar language but--- again, Tristan blamed Lucien. It was his fault. “I didn’t choose to fall in love with you.” Finally, he allowed himself to meet Lucien’s eyes. For all the pounding in Tristan’s chest he never expected to feel such absolute pain too. That stupid awful heart of his... “Are you happy now? Content? Amused?” 

[demartcl]

Hayley Marshall. 

Hope Mikaelson. 

Hope tried her best - and failed - to appear as if his words didn’t have her thinking about it. Her mind automatically going to the night she had to kill her very first love to save the entire supernatural world. That night was a doozy for her, so much so she didn’t let herself grieve. The moment that blood hardened blade pierced Landon’s skin, her humanity switch flipped. The carnage that followed after that was also something. “In this case, the end is my mothers heart extracted so you guys can free yourself of my father. How is that fair to me? How is that fair to my mother? One drunken one night stand later and she has to die so you can be free? She didn’t ask for this, not any of it.” Not the war with Dahlia, Esther and Mikael. Not the sire line war drama, not having to cart around coffins and always be on the run just to keep Hope’s family alive, none of it. And yet, she was. Even when she had an out when she married Jackson, she could have lived a good life away from all of this drama but it was because of Hope herself that her mother was in the middle of it all, all the time. And in the end? It was because of Hope that she died. Hell they may as well just take her heart at this point. Hope mentally took away ten points from herself at the thought. “Yeah, well you wouldn’t be wrong to think that. I just had to find a… less problematic way of saying it.” Hope responds with a… small laugh? Laughing with the man who put her mother in danger to begin with? Jesus. “She won’t.” Hope knew that much at least, “And she’ll make it known too. Guess it’s a good thing you have me here otherwise she’d kill you.” And Hope wouldn’t do anything to stop it frankly, except now with his life tied to hers - she would. “Try to keep up.” And with that, Hope’s using the speed of her vampire and wolf nature to make her way to where Greta had last (?) had her mother. 

Once there, Hope stayed a distance away, the house in sight as she listened in for any vampires in the house and how many. She wondered if she’d run into Roman here. Looking to the side of her to see if Tristan had indeed kept up, hues then shift to the front of the yard. The door was broken through, her stomach twists in fear before she trails her eyes down. The smell of burning flesh was still prominent in the air and on the ground, two bodies. “Mom!” At this point, Hope didn’t care if there was any other vampire around that could potentially attack her, she could deal with it when it came but right now she just needed her mom. The fact of Tristan’s life being connected to her mothers didn’t even register at this point as Hope sped over to her mom, tears splashing onto her cheeks until the… thud thud thud of her mothers heart beat in her ears. Hope relaxed with relief then. Looking to the body next to her mother, “That’s Greta.” Hope looks up to Tristan before looking at the house. “Think you missed your chance to talk to some of those purists.” Hope would have killed them before he got the chance to anyways. Her attention then went back to her unconscious mother, “Mom,” Hope spoke softly, lightly shaking her as if that would pull her out of this, “Please wake up. If you don’t, I’ll have to carry you and can you imagine the shit you’ll get for that?” An attempt at a joke in this kind of situation. @becomingfractured​

     it was the voice calling to her that awoke her consciousness, it was a new voice, one she’d only heard for a few months, but she had immediately committed it to memory. it was hope. it was the second call and the little shake of her body that drew her out of the darkness. hayley’s vision slightly blurred, eyes blinking rapidly to clear it, to see her. ‘ hope ? ’ she croaks, seeing the face of her adult daughter over her. was this just another mirage to lull her into a false sense of security ? was it really hope there ? sitting up she reached out to the other’s arms, trying to feel if she was here, feel if she was real. with the confirmation that hope was indeed in front of her, the woman let out a rushed sigh of relief, ‘ hi honey. ’ instantly her arms pulled the other into her chest, wrapping around her. there was a very real moment where hayley had believed that she was never going to see hope again, this version or her baby. the wave of joy over this moment crashed harshly into her, tears rimming her eyes. pulling away, amongst the happy expression over her features, there was confusion. no daylight ring ? how ?

     in that moment she noticed something out of the corner of her eye that hayley rushed to her feet, facing the form of one tristan de martel. regardless of his claims when she was with him, the hybrid refused to trust the man that had taken her. that was until now. well she trusted one thing, their lives did seem to be linked. ‘ i’ll take this as your apology for the rough treatment back there, ’ she bites out, referencing his capture of her. did hayley truly believe she was safe ? that he wouldn’t sacrifice her if that was what it came down to ? not for a second. but, his handy dandy spell did actually save her. then she scanned the area, hoping to catch any other lurkers. ‘ it’s probably best to get the hell out of here, thoughts ? ’ she spoke while turning her daughter. tristan could be dealt with later. at this point she wanted to be as far away from this place as possible and fast. third time was not going to be the charm in the story of damsel in distress hayley marshall.  @demartcl​

.

“That is the ending I’m trying to avoid.” Tristan told her, and though his tone was grim it was sincere. Tristan didn’t mind casualties in battle, but there was a point when certain casualties triggered the loss of the entire war. He would be lucky to even survive, and that in itself was ensured in the binding to Hayley and eradicated without it, or without her living. “When it comes to the problematic nature of other beings,” Tristan began, borrowing the word Hope herself had used. “Only the ones conforming to those views should be worried of how it paints them, and if they’re self aware enough to realize then they’re simply bigots.” He knew the type. Faced them as he grew more comfortable with his own bisexuality, watching other people judge for Aurora’s mental health as well, among many other bigoted judgements through the centuries Tristan watched unfold. Sometimes on whimsy he joined in the fighting, no one was going to miss some bigots other then other ones. No loss. “Darling, calling out the truth of shit people doesn’t reflect on you. Anyone who thinks differently is an idiot.” He said simply. If someone couldn’t see the truth of someone else’s deplorable actions then there was something wrong with them too. Only a blind man couldn’t see a difference, and even then. 

Tristan chose not to point out Hayley was aware their lives were tied, it felt rhetorical and like gasoline on his prior actions. Not that he regretted them, but Hope wasn’t fond obviously. Nor was Hayley. He followed the young woman at speed, her knowledge of the location did cause him suspect, Tristan decided he’d circle back to that later. The smell of burnt vampire was in the air, and Hope was running ahead without precaution. There were vampires surrounding them. Then again, if it was Lucien or Aurora--- even Ezra, someone he cared for in danger would produce similar results. Perhaps more pleasure in the murder of their captors. As Hope went to her mother’s side, alive she was Trstan knew, on account of him being alive as well. He watched her back, seeing if any of the vampires surrounding would try something. Finally he approached, keeping a wary eye out and heightened hearing for any of the surrounding vampires to make a move. “I suppose you could take it as one. Though I would prefer chocolates, flowers and dresses as a proper apology. As well as the words themselves, if you’d take them.” He wasn’t sorry for the outcome, both in keeping her alive and the truth that the spell was necessary. For a plethora of reasons. Though Tristan would admit he would have preferred less precarious actions then what led to the spell. 

He kept his eyes on the mother and daughter, hearing attuned to the world around them. These vampires were already idiots, them deciding to attack wasn’t too much of a shock. Though Tristan did prefer simplicity when it came to battle, fondling over an enemies defeat only led to being stabbed in the back. A vampire rushed at them and his neck was snapped before he could even reach. Their body fell to the ground like a bag of potatoes and Tristan asked. “Would either of you like to choose what’s done to this one?” He didn’t have the same stakes in this as the hybrid woman did. Miss Marshall was correct though, getting out of here was their best interest. “I do agree. More are waiting to strike.” Idiots they were, but even the smallest of mosquitoes had a itchy bite. So Tristan remained watchful. 

[demartcl]

Hope Mikaelson.​

The sire lines, of course this was about the stupid sire lines. Hope knew all about the sire line deal, she knew who they ended up using in the end and she was going to gatekeep the fuck out of that. “We don’t need to be enemies, yet you took my mother, do you hear yourself when you talk?” At least he saw removing her mothers heart was more trouble than it was worth, her dad could hold a grudge - she knew that much. Hope though, she wouldn’t play the cat and mouse game. A breath is released in attempt to just… calm down, stop her from taking out her anger on him any further because if she were to hurt him she’d be hurting her mother and she didn’t want that. It was a smart move, on his part but fuck, it was so annoying. All anger aside with Tristan even taking her mother in the first place, Hope needed to focus on getting her back. She didn’t like hearing that she was in peril. Hues then focus on the paper that he unfolded, eyes falling to the symbols that made her freeze. The sire line war was one thing, but this? This was another thing entirely. Greta. The very woman who had her son get close to Hope, to trust him and in the process, she stupidly fell for him, the very woman who killed her mother. This was worse. “Greta Sienna, she’s just another person hellbent on getting revenge on my dad for killing her husband. She’s a vampire purist.” That was the nice way of saying things, “Considers hybrids an abomination. She wanted my mom and I to seal our werewolf nature, my mom did. And before she could do anything to me, my mom threw her and Greta into the sun.” Hope wasn’t afraid of a lot these days, but losing her parents again? She couldn’t handle that. She wouldn’t be able to. “If Greta has her, I know where they are.”

She was much like Hayley, from what Tristan had known of her, also much like Klaus. Perhaps his fonder traits traits would overpower his negative ones in his daughter. It would be a lucky life for Hope if that were true. “Have you ever needed to do something for someone they didn’t like? Even knowing it was for their own good. I cannot excuse my actions perfectly, but the ultimate point was to ensure your mother’s safety. Do you ever find, Hope Mikaelson, that the end justifies the means?” Hayley being safe was certainly a happy ending, however unlikely that currently looked. Though given Tristan had truly attached his life to hers, he’d rather she not die. He had plans backfire before but that would truly be an atrocious version of it. Death by his own gambit, truly disgraceful. Sienna. Tristan didn’t recognize the name and he didn’t like that. Lacking information was a fool’s perspective and he refused to be one of those. “I’ve always found the word purist often indicates more then the definition.” He was familiar with the type in other regards, though the vampiric version was a first for him. There was nothing pure about vampirism. She was from the future, and recalling that little tidbit was always somewhat of a startle in all that hadn’t happened yet. For all Tristan’s own vendetta against the Mikaelsons, hearing of this Sienna did tick off a certain box of personal dislike from him. “That sounds like your mother.” Truly a spitfire even to the end, literally. “Lead the way. I’m certain your mother won’t be pleased to see me but I have some inquiries for these vampire purists that can’t be helped.” And though he didn’t say it overtly, just as Tristan always didn’t, the word backup was clearly implied. If not for Hayley’s link to his life now turned against him, then for the annoyance that came with any purists. 

[demartcl]

Ezra Jones. 

silence followed in intervals every time they spoke. it was an unsettling kind of silence — the kind that came with knowing they remained civil in conversation but different alliances made them enemies. elijah mikaelson was one of the smartest and most powerful men that he knew, and it didn’t help that tristan de martel followed closely behind him. if the leader of the strix had an agenda, there was little that could be done to stop it without leaving behind a trail of mass destruction. ezra knew this. “ you claim there will be no war but you intend to free hundreds of vampires with personal vendettas against the mikaelson family. ” he was a firm believer that breaking the sirelines would then tip over the scale that kept everything balanced. the world needed balance — it needed order. “ they will be out for blood on both ends. ” as much as he loathed everything tristan stood for. as much as he wanted to see the strix and any influence they may have wiped clean from this very earth. as much as he wanted to protect elijah, he wouldn’t achieve much happiness by watching tristan die. “ you’re not the only one with friends on your side. if you wish to break the sirelines, you’ll have to kill me first. ”

“you forget,” tristan began. “most of elijah’s line is well within the strix itself.” not all, but a rather large chunk if history indicated anything. “our goal isn’t to destroy elijah, just free ourselves from the mikaelson’s self destruction.” if finn and kol’s fates were anything to go by it couldn’t have been far off. and though the thought of elijah’s demise did make a special ache in his chest tristan refused to allow it deeper into him, he couldn’t allow such bias feelings to surface when he had a mission to continue. “as for their enemies... those are problems klaus created for himself. us averting our fate being tied to another is simply survival ezra. aren’t we owed the right to decide when our demise should be? to survive for so long only to be brought death by the bad choices of elijah mikaelson? what kind of cruel fate is that?” a frown tight attached to his face, the thought of ezra dying brought him no pleasure. “if the sirelines aren’t broken.” tristan spoke, a somber seriousness to him that typically laid beneath the surface of deals and charisma. “then elijah himself will be the one to kill you. he’ll kill all of us eventually. are you truly okay being resigned to that fate? letting all of us die on his behalf?”

[demartcl]

Kadir Sari. 

“ Didn’t know I was interview you for a job,” he quipped. The man was going out of his way to make sure that he felt comfortable and the more he did the more uneasy he felt. “ I have my own ways of figuring out if your promise are smoke and mirror or ring true. But if you have people to vouch for you I’m open to hearing from them. But from this point forward when dealing with you it won’t be your words I hold you accountable for alone. It will be your actions as well. ” He liked the fact this man knew better then to come to an arrangement with nothing but his word. He didn’t care how noble one  was said to be by other. Kadir went on a person actions to know of their character. He didn’t interrupt much after that, hearing the other out. He clearly had a plan in mind. Or at least was getting his pieces ready for whatever he might be throwing the Mikaelson’s way. Damn that family drew in trouble like a magnate. Kadir didn’t care one way or the other when it came to that family. He had no connection to them, nothing biding him. And while he would be happy with a few less vampire’s running around. There was no way in hell he would be letting his pack fight for Tristan against them– he didn’t care if the Crescents were fool hearty enough to aligned with them. Point for Tristan for knowing better then to ask.  Lips pursed he sat back mulling over the offer. It was tempting to say the least and he knew how to get right at the heart of things. The rivalry between their packs wasn’t new information. Its a story that has been told in both packs no doubt over the years. Kadir himself didn’t know how it began, but his families own run in with the Crescents and the death of his mother by one was enough to keep the feud raging for as long as he was alpha. “ Now what makes you think I can’t just find a witch to make me a moonlight ring.”” There was always Nik, he’d kind of brought the warlock into his fold as their resident magic user. If all he wanted was moonlight rings then he had the means to get it.  Kadir pushed forward letting his arms rest on the table top. “ You want us to keep the Crescents preoccupied on your fools mission against the Mikaelson’s. You will have to do better then just a moonlight ring.” he countered. Eyeing the vampire for a moment longer. “The crescents have hybrids, that can use their abilities when ever they need too. Now, if you could make us rings like that, where we can channel our powers without having to shift fully.” he shrugged lounging back in his chair with a grin on his face. “ I might be willing to considering this proposition of yours. With a few stipulations set in place. Just to make sure you stay true and don’t double cross me or my pack.” 

.

“Understood.” Tristan couldn’t fault the alpha for his clear suspense of belief. He already disliked vampires, and Tristan was one of the oldest. He had little reason to trust him as things stood, and if he needed to prove that trust then so be it. Not to mention, for all the many radical faults Elijah had bestowed upon him in the 100 years Tristan spent thinking he was him, being a man of his word was one that had remained. He was trickier with his word then Elijah of course, but Tristan never lied deliberately, and his actions stood true among his words. “If there’s any action you find lackluster I’d happily to put it to discussion.” Tristan admired strong point of views. He also admired a good lie and the liar the followed, even if he wasn’t one himself. But that wouldn’t be a selling point to Kadir so it was more of an omission. 

Asking the North Atlantic to fight a battle that wasn’t theirs was a fools errand. Tristan had come to understand how tight knit wolves and by extensions, packs, were. It was the same as his Strix, perhaps with less of a pecking order. He respected it however. Standing by your chosen group of people, ensuring their protection and welfare. It was the same he felt for his own chosen family. 

“There are Moonlight Rings and then there are... let’s call them, Upgraded Moonlight Rings.” He listened as the other man negotiated, and Tristan admired it. There were not a grand amount of people who could keep their wits about them as they spoke, not letting emotion cloud their judgement, thinking truly analytically. He was looking forward to this partnership. Of course, he needed to procure it first, but Tristan didn’t doubt himself in that. “That could be arranged.” Truly it could. With The Sisters coven at his disposal, if Tristan gave them the task he was sure they’d knock it out easily. They were powerful and exiled, there was no greater combination in a witch. 

He listened, and with true enjoyment of the situation (-- something he could hear Lucien in his head calling him names for, enjoying a negotiation against someone clever, a deal of mutual benefit, Tristan couldn’t help what made him happy) Tristan grinned. “That’s acceptable. I have no objection to ensuring your packs best interest. It’s not a proper negotiation if both parties aren’t satisfied with the end results.” He spoke, pleased with the events passage.  

[demartcl]

Lucien Castle. 

.

The second that those three words left Tristan’s lips, Lucien knew that he had figured it out. If Katherine asked, he’d deny it, but the truth is that he hadn’t really been attempting to hide his identity. There were other people in town with whom Lucien would have to play a much longer game with but Tristan had never been one of them. That man would take Lucien’s secrets to the grave and Lucien certainly wasn’t above exploiting the affection that his oldest friend had for him for his own gain. What was the point in getting someone to love you if it didn’t work to your advantage every now and again? And while revealing his identity a bit prematurely might have been a mistake in the short term, Lucien knew it was the right choice in the long run. This time around, they were on the same side; Lucien needed Tristan unsired from Elijah at the earliest opportunity in order to exact his revenge on the Original. One might have thought that his time in limbo would have caused him to wise up and give up on revenge entirely, but that wasn’t Lucien’s way. Nik had gotten the best of him and if Lucien was honest, it was karma. He had gone after the wrong man, made his life a living hell, and he hadn’t even been aware of the deed that Elijah had carried out against him. Lucien had seen the truth of that in his thoughts first hand. He wondered if Tristan knew, or if he simply suspected. 

A wolfish grin came over his features as Tristan spoke, looking very much like the cat that ate the canary. He didn’t regret the kiss and he hoped that his companion didn’t either. They had never let themselves give into that part of their relationship, not really, and death had taught Lucien one thing: life was far too short to play games, even if you were supposed to live forever. “You love this fool,” Lucien whispered back, taking Tristan’s hand in his and urging him to follow. They had to get off the street and Tristan was clearly too stunned to realize the gravity of Lucien’s situation. “You love this fool and you always have and it’s time that we work together now, Tristan. No more games, no more plans, no more tricks. Be my partner or let me die doing it my way again. Those are the only choices left.” 

.

“I have half a mind to snap your neck.” Tristan spoke promptly. “It would be fair, considering.” The last time they had spoken face to face in reality Lucien had done just that when Tristan tried to stop his folly errand. Just as Tristan had stipulated, it blew up in Lucien’s face and if not for the body swap his niece had pulled for Lucien the man would be dead already. “Perhaps three quarters of a mind.” For all his words though, Tristan spoke with all too much fondness to lay a hand on Lucien. Even if there was an urge to punch or smack him for all the worry he had delivered unto Tristan in the wake of his chaos and numerous bad choices. Nonetheless Tristan couldn’t help but look over him with eyes of relief, taking in the new body he had chosen for himself. It wasn’t terrible, though Tristan would always remain most fond of the original model. The same feelings he had tried to ignore since the moment he met him, feelings that turned into fury and anguish then into something more that only decades together could provide. The love he felt had been overwhelming, and the loss had been consuming. It was only the thought of Lucien remaining alive still, though asleep, that kept Tristan sane without Lucien’s annoying voice in his ear. He missed him. More then Tristan could dare put into words, but if his lack of coldness and violence was anything to go by, Lucien would surely be aware.

It took a moment for the situation to snap in that occurred prior. Putting aside Lucien’s half baked plans, there was the fact the man had greeted him with a kiss. Of all things, the feelings Tristan felt at ease putting aside bubbling to the surface now? Lucien’s initiation to them. It was probably lust, Tristan realized (ignoring how his heart spurned in break at the thought), he had been asleep for quite a long time. It only made sense, even if burned Tristan with frost. “I-” Nothing would come out of a lie, especially when Lucien so clearly knew the truth. “The extent of my feelings matters not. It doesn’t make you any less of a fool.” He needed the redirect cause this was hardly the time for discussions of feelings. Feelings were the least of Tristan’s priorities. “I will not allow you to die.” And for how much Tristan wanted his emotions buried they couldn’t help but spur the moment Lucien suggested such a thing. “But you must take heed of me this time. No more going rogue.” It may have been an impossible promise for Lucien to make but the only way for this to work was a true partnership, without Lucien running off to do things that would get them all killed. 

[demartcl]

Fallon de Martel.

Fallon wasn’t sure how to act around Tristan. Lucien had been easy for her to get along with; they both had the same rash mindset, the same crude sense of humor, the same impulsive nature. Tristan was a little more proper and put together and analytical and people like that had always terrified Fallon. She was scared that they could see right through her bravado and bluster. At this point, she was certain that her uncle knew she was a complete mess and yet her cheeks still flushed when he found her screaming in her sleep. “I know that it’s bothersome and inconvenient to have someone like me around,” she whispered, not because she thought that he felt that way but because Fallon found herself grating and frustrating at this point. She shakes her head furiously at his question, backpedaling as fast as she could. “No, no, no. That’s not what I’m saying. I just don’t want to put you out or anything. I know that I’m not really the easiest person to be around, especially right now.” Tears sprang to her eyes at his next question. It had been a long time since someone had asked her what she actually wanted rather than assuming they knew what was best for her. “I…I guess that talking about it might be helpful. I’ve never really tried that before. I kinda keep everything inside.” She shoots him the ghost of a smile. “Is that a family trait?” 

“That’s ridiculous.” Tristan spoke without the venom he would usually abhor for such a statement. This wasn’t an enemy and this wasn’t a debate, this was his niece who currently lacked just about anyone currently and he would be damned if he didn’t step forward and let her fall. No one else appeared to try and pick her up, and if that left Tristan alone to do then so be it. “The only inconvenience and bother in my life is Lucien Castle and that remains unavoidable.” Because the words were spoken with both factuality and deep affection that Tristan struggled to faucet. “Has anyone ever told you I appreciate easy? Enjoying a challenge is something I pride myself upon. If I only stuck around easy people then my life would dreadfully dull.” He told her. She looked tired, for a vampire. Exhausted. Something that wasn’t easily with immortality on your belt. “I wouldn’t know. I don’t typically try talking about things either.” It wasn’t a confession he made easily on account of it’s truthful nature. He was used to being the shoulder for everyone to depend on, not shedding his own walls. This situation required something different though and for his niece, he would try for it. “So I suppose yes, it is.” He offered something of a smile to her. “I don’t suppose you’d like some tea as well? Typically it’s soothing.”

[demartcl]

Hope Mikaelson. 

Hope was far too angry to let that same fear she felt when she was that fourteen year old girl who lost her mom sink in, she was pissed, vision tunneled as she took no time at all looking for the first sires. She didn’t know them like her dad, uncle and aunt did but it seemed as if Tristan was the brains of the three. Finding Tristan was easy, following the scent of overpriced cologne, and the second that she did, she was shoving him against the wall, the amber of her hues glowing with anger. “Assuming you’re behind why she’s missing, I wouldn’t need help if you just kept to yourself in the first place.” But she wanted her mom back more than taking her anger out on Elijah’s first. So with that, Hope drew back, “Where is she?”

She was as lovely as her mother, and Tristan meant it entirely. She was fierce, focused and had a will of iron, and he admired such traits. If not for steel entanglement in the Mikaelsons he would have pursued them as allies. As it was now, he saw Hope as an unfortunate soul born into a family of monsters. It was only so long she could escape becoming one herself, if she hadn’t already. “We needn’t be enemies, Miss Mikaelson. I’ll admit to the fact I initially took your mother’s company by deception but it was not without cause. I released her once our business as finished, but not without precaution. She’s endangered you see,” More then the single use of the word. “Her heart is the only ingredient lacking in breaking the sire lines, but removing it is far more trouble then it’s worth.” Tristan would assume Hope didn’t want it sugar coated. “I’d rather not be on the run my eternal life. So instead I’m having my witches work alternatives or copies, and to ensure none of my Strix take matters into their own hands I had my finest witch link our lives. None of them would allow my own life in peril, and such it ensures hers.” He explained. “The far more pressing concern, is that your mother is currently in PERIL.” Tristan reached for his pocket, unfolding a sheet where he’d copied the symbols they had branded into Hayley’s skin and thus his. “I don’t suppose you recognize this symbol?” With his quick healing it had been quick to vanish, but Tristan just as hastily copied the symbols down. 

[demartcl]

Ezra Jones. 

a blank stare is all ezra could offer as the familiar face appeared in front of him. one that detailed years of being unable to see eye to eye given their tendency to clash. tristan de martel. the first of elijah mikaelson’s sires and possibly the one he regretted the most. because then came the birth of a new legion of vampires fueled by vengeance and vengeance alone. he was aware of the tragic tale. what it meant for tristan to see the mikaelsons prosper despite their sins. but sin was a universal burden and every man had blood on their hands. “ and here i was thinking that you’d be delighted to see me. ” once upon a time, ezra had hoped that people would soon write stories of his friendship with tristan — speak of a story so great that it would influence future generations to come. it was a shame that it had to end so soon. “ simple. you put an end to whatever foolishness you have planned. a fight against the mikaelsons is not one you can win. ”

“in another time, in another town, another conflict--- yes.” for most the word perhaps would have followed, even lucien or aurora. dramatic as they were, midst battle their presence was a perhaps for his delight. ezra, however, without the conflict between them he was certain he would have valued the man’s presence far more. even now he still did, even if ezra was blinded to loyalty of a man who would just as soon allow him to perish and for what? a family who betrayed him time and time again? he would sacrifice the very organization he created for them, tristan didn’t blink at the thought there was little else elijah wouldn’t abandon. “you know better then the average man, foolishness is something without any benefit, and you know me.” tristan didn’t do anything without finding benefit from it. everything was a trade of different sorts. “i don’t intend to fight them ezra. in fact if i have it my way, i’ll never have to see any of them again nor will the lives of all we know be strangled by their loose threads.” 

[demartcl]

Markos. 

“nor should you be these are perilous times. impartiality is a luxury that most can not afford.“ no matter how they might boast otherwise. he could respect him in this aspect. markos couldn’t afford any impartiality not with so much at stake and on the line for them. “in the first century  most called her gifted, those who actually witness her power thought her a goddess .” he began moving to take a seat at a near by bench. a far off look on his face as he spoke. “ she was betrayed by a person who loved her, deceived by one who envied her and lied too by one whom she trusted.” looking towards the vampire he smiled, “ and even they could not break her, could not silence her. and she has returned to right the wrongs  against those who follow her and those of her blood. qetsiyah of sparta but most knew her simply as qetsiyah.” 

“none could afford it yes so many choose it anyhow, oblivious to how much it’ll cost them.” choosing a blind eye was so easy for too many ignorant fools, not realizing that such thing would cause complete blindness the day what you overlooked comes back to bite you. a goddess. certainly tristan’s interest was piqued, he’d be a fool to overlook the man’s words or the offer clear in them. a goddess typically meant a witch of some sort, of great strength. his mind swayed to lucy but he listened all the same, one goddess was wonderful but two? practically two aces up his sleeve. tristan couldn’t help but think of the mikaelsons, wonder if this woman was another victim of them as he, aurora and lucien had been. QETSIYAH. tristan had heard of her only in history, further back then the mikaelsons and now she lived? that was news, imperative news. “i’ve heard of her power.” impressive as it was, he couldn’t not hear of it. “but i could make no promises without full disclosure. what wrongs does she wish to right?” because witches often saw vampirism as their wrongs, and for all her power, tristan couldn’t align with the death of his family and race. 

[demartcl]

Lucien Castle. 

.

Lucien knew that his plan when he had first come back to McKinley was flawed, but he had never thought that it would actually end with Klaus overpowering him. He wasn’t foolish enough to believe that he could win in a one on one fight against the hybrid. After all, Klaus and his family had certain advantages that Lucien would never be able to even dream of. However, he had overestimated the amount of affection that the Original held for him, and it had been his demise. The moments before the world had become nothing but endless darkness had been terrifying; dread and fear and anxiety ran rampant through him and there was nothing that he could do to avoid his own fate. Lucien had made his bed, and Nik had made sure that he had to lie in it. Tristan had easily been one of his hardest goodbyes. He never thought that he would have a chance to say hello again and certainly not so soon. He wasn’t going to make the same mistakes this time around, of that much he was certain. He was going to take what he wanted and give nothing back. 

It was obvious that Tristan was taken with the man in front of him. In an odd way, a spark of jealousy flared up inside of Lucien. Tristan had no way of knowing that this was him, and yet he was entertaining his advances all the same. It made sense, he supposed. Tristan and Lucien had never agreed to any certain terms of their relationship, nothing more than a one night stand that they had never spoken of again, and yet envy raged inside of him. “I didn’t want to keep away from you anymore,” he admitted. A wolf-like grin came over his features as Tristan pressed for his name. “Call me whatever you like, darling. After all, what’s in a name?” 

.

Strangers were either allies or foes you haven’t met yet. Typically Tristan preferred making an ally out of an unknown entity but it couldn’t always be helped, especially when allegiance with the Mikaelson family ran rampant through the city like a plague. For any spurts of humanity that family displayed others found it easy to ignore their atrocities. Tristan wasn’t so lucky. They put his sister’s life in danger, Lucien’s, and his own. For what? For bait, because their father was hunting them like animals. The world feared the Mikaelson family but Tristan saw them a nothing but cowards. Not even strong enough to admit to their faults and amend for them. He couldn’t picture a single one admitting they had done wrong, let alone apologizing on behalf of it. It was half of what furrowed his hatred of them. The other half, was fear. Finn had died, and then Kol. The world was soon acquainted with the truth that with a Mikaelsons death their sireline died as well. Those were risks Tristan refused to take. Not for Aurora, not for Lucien, and not for himself. The lines needed to be broken by any means necessary, or the Mikaelsons needed to be nullified and kept in safe keeping. It was as simple and complicated as that. 

There was a wonder if this man was a spy of some sort but Tristan couldn’t picture the Mikaelsons being so forward as to send someone to seduce him. It wasn’t their style. Nonetheless Tristan knew how to play coy, he was an expert in deception. One of them needed to be, and god knows Aurora or Lucien couldn’t contain their emotions to save their lives (quite literally, drama queens, the two of them. Not that Tristan wasn’t dramatic but he was able to hide or morph the emotion as façade). He knew Tristan, it was made clear in his words. His lack of overt tact was also a give away. His heart betrayed him, skipping a solid beat ruthlessly. “You utter fool.” He spoke, but overcome with emotion he lacked the self control to keep the fondness from his tone. Lucien. 

[demartcl]

@fleetingmcmories​

“Hello darling,” Tristan slid into the booth across from Ezra. His sources had informed him of the other man’s presence and he had been hasty to address it. For all their history Ezra remained a thorn in his side, the biggest problem being he hoped he didn’t need to clip it. Their history was vast, and Tristan would rather Ezra remain around just not currently. Not when their ideals were so vastly different. “I’m certain you’re aware I’d rather you not be here, and I’m not simple enough to ask why you are.” It was all too obvious for Tristan to point it out. “What I will ask, however, is what we shall do about it.” Two opposing sides and views. Unlike the Mikaelsons however, Tristan cared for Ezra’s wellbeing enough to want to find a peaceful resolution. 

[demartcl]

Noelle Bennett. 

Noelle had been nervous, especially when a compelled human told her to deliver the flowers to Tristan De Martel. She felt like a sheep amongst wolves as she entered the establishment he had been staying at. “These are for you… From Aurora,” She said, trying not to tear up as she knew she had to play things safe for her baby and her. Even for Fallon. “I don’t know what twisted game you and your sister and Lucien have going on but I don’t want any part of it,”

For what in the world would his sister send a pregnant young woman to his door with flowers? It worried him. This was the worst place for Aurora to have one of her worse episodes, especially with Mikaelsons roaming about. If one of them fell upon her and she said the wrong thing--- that family didn’t have mercy in them. Especially Niklaus who failed to see past his sister’s struggles and only his own. “Did she seem well to you?” He inquired, and frowned as she spoke. “There is no twisted game.” Not amongst them, they were supposed to be united, all three of them. So yes, Tristan was concerned.