The Overlooked

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king-of-the-city-mg‌:

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to do things like offer an apology or gratitude. They were both things he’d actually gotten quite well at in his lifetime. He knew very well how far a bit of diplomacy and basic decency could get you, but this situation was harder. It was fair to say that he didn’t like Jen. At least before. She was the last person he’d have gone to for really any thing for the simple reason that he couldn’t trust her. Until now of course.   

He followed her through her home, tucking his hands in his jacket pockets and making an effort to look relaxed. Though it took quite a bit more than he’d planned. Truthfully, he felt like he was always tensed these days. Walking on eggshells and waiting for things to be snatched away again.

“Yeah. Not easy is an understatement.” He scoffed a bit, but kept his tone calm. He wasn’t sure he really had the energy to be hostile. “Look. Whether you think I need to thank you or not, I know I need to. Davina means the world to me and I,” he paused, shaking his head slightly. “I don’t know what I’d have done if you weren’t here. I owe you now. So if you need anything, ever. Just let me know”

Jennifer, since arriving in town, had gotten very used to being one the receiving end of threats, anger and (when seeing Cora) physical violence. Having a person coming to see her who was actually thankful was a novel experience. Though considering how her night had gone it appeared to be a day full of novel experiences. She still hadn’t quite come to terms with the fact that she’d given life when everything in her past two centuries and some had revolved around death.  

She cupped both hands around her cup and took another small sip before turning and adding another spoonful of sugar into it, she needed the energy and the sweetness right now. With everything else going on around her something good was needed.

“I prefer to err on the side of understating.” she said quietly, “Makes it more impactful when I finally state things as they are.” One trick she’d learned a very long time ago. Jennifer starred at him for several moments before replying, “That’s a dangerous thing to offer Mr. Gerard. I’m perhaps the most hated supernatural being in this town, next to some certain Originals; be careful about what you say or promises you make.”  

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king-of-the-city-mg‌:

The past few days had been.. Rough, to say the least. Marcel Gerard was a confident man. He was sure of himself, steady. He, generally speaking, had no problems with managing his day to day life. He’d faced many different trials and tribulations and stood strong in the midst of adversity. But that had all flipped with the young witches’ death. She was back now, resurrected, but it didn’t help his nerves. 

He’d barely let Davina out of his sight since she’d come back. He wasn’t really a paranoid man, but over the past few days, it had been a prevalent state. The fear of losing her again, of failing to save her, was strong enough to shake his core and he hated it. He was able to pull himself away from the witch long enough to seek out Jennifer Blake. 

Personal feelings aside, she’d brought Davina back. And he, at the very least, owed a ‘thank you’ to the woman, whether he really wanted to suck up his price and say it or not. He almost didn’t expect her to open the door. And yet she did. He clasped his hands in front of him, a frown tracing his lips for a few moments as he tried to figure out exactly how to start. 

“I was..” Nope, that wasn’t a good start. He paused, shaking his head and looking around before sighing. “I just came to say thank you. Can I come in?” He asked, motioning towards the doorway.

An internal sigh of great magnitude emitted from her when Marcel seemed almost sheepish at her doorway rather then ready for vengeance. For whatever reason, though she couldn’t quite fathom why, Davina must’ve kept her role in the young witch’s early demise a secret. In either case she had nothing to fear at the moment and she opened the door a little more before nodding slightly.

“Of course.” she waited for him to come inside and closed the door behind her. Still not opening the curtains. Light was more muted indoors, she had a few candles burning since they calmed her and moved into the kitchen, “I’d offer you a drink but that would be pointless so I’ll just make myself one.” she said, working to keep her voice casual, though the tension could easily be forgiven, it had been an emotional evening.

“I imagine this is hard for you. Being as close to Derek as you are.” When she’d arrived odds were the vampire had hated her through and through yet now, in a turnabout, he owed her and even in this state it was too good an opportunity to pass up.          

“You don’t need to thank me though. You clearly cared for Davina and despite, what my past may infer, I am not a lover of death.” she told him, making a cup of tea and leaving it to steep for a few minutes.

[jenniferblake-blog1]

When: A Few Days Follow Davia’s Resurrection  Where: Jennifer’s Apartment With: Marcel @king-of-the-city-mg

Jennifer had spent the past few days in something of a stupor. She’d called in sick for work but since all her lectures were recorded a week in advance (just in case) they just wished her a speedy recovery and left it at that. So Jennifer hadn’t left her home, spending time wondering idly from room to room and finding her eyes drawn back again and again to the worn red blanket that was folded on her coffee table.

It shouldn’t have happened. She shouldn’t have been able to do it. Jennifer was a Darach, they were those who coveted death and sacrifice, practicing their work left both behind and the closest thing that ever came to life from said work was power to the practitioner. But... this had been different. Yes she’d sacrificed Davina and yes it made sense that would empower her but one person (even a promising young witch) wouldn’t afford her that kind of power. 

Her pacing was interrupted when she heard a knock on her door and the woman looked over, brushing her (somewhat) unkempt hair down as she moved over and cracked the door open slightly, not relaxing at the sight of the man in front of her. Marcel. Jennifer couldn’t be sure if Davina told him she was the one who’d killed her to begin with; even if she brought her back the Darach doubted that would be enough to clean her slate. 

Clearing her throat she spoke, “How can I help you, Mr. Gerard?” 

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Writing Prompt Task: Cora & Jennifer

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halexstorm‌:

Cora raised a slender brow and looked at Jennifer with a slight smirk. 

“You know damn well I can’t do that.”

Hearing about what her brother got up to with Jennifer was too much, yes, but Cora could never agree to do that even if it was only said in a playful way. She just didn’t have it in her to say she would. So her smirk widened until a grin had formed.

“Derek would be more uncomfortable with this situation than I ever would be…so keep the details to yourself and spare his blushes.”

She could only imagine what he would say if he found out his kid sister was hearing some rather intimate details. The female wolf was also quite aware of how Jennifer liked to tease and knew nothing too detailed would leave her lips–at least she hoped not anyway. 

“Fluttering your eyes at me won’t work so quit it….”

She tried to sound serious but it didn’t come off that way especially when she had to let out a chuckle at the end of it. Cora was enjoying herself and it felt good to know the future appeared to be something she was looking forward to. Jennifer was a part of it–she was a big part because Derek loved her and Cora had come to as well. 

The thought of her mom seeing her in thigh-high boots, made the rebellious side of Cora amused as hell. Though there would probably be a moment of regret when she first showed her. Unfortunately, though, the moment wasn’t enough to quash the idea of buying some. She was so used to buying flat boots, biker boots, Cora wanted to buy something different even if it wasn’t something she would wear every day. 

“He was right. I was shy.”    

She was quick to side-eye Jennifer, clearly indicating that she was lying. Cora had never really been shy about things. Not at this stage in her life anyway. Little did she know it would be the later years when things would change when it came to intimacy issues, but that was because of a future she didn’t know about yet. 

“I am always out!..in the woods….fresh air and nature…”

This was very true. Even as a small child she would sneak outside when she should have been in bed. Her mom would often scold her if she was caught, but it never stopped her. Cora loved being out after dark, there was always something peaceful when the moon took its rightful place in the sky. 

Her visual was quick to shift to where the other female was gesturing and Cora tried to look casual about it, but damn it, that footwear was….stunning.

“These…these are perfect!…but..would they suit me?”

She’d already taken hold of them and was trying them on.

“Well?”

Jennifer was content enough to smirk back with no shame.

“Whaaaaat? You not able to be the subjugated one? I’d have never guessed.”

It was playful, teasing, and Jennifer couldn’t recall a time when she’d been able to indulge in such a way before the Hales... Well, there was one time but she adamantly refused to linger on those thoughts for more than a few moments at a time.

“Oh he would...  Considering the way he acts when we’re alone it surprises me how prudish he can be.” she chuckled.

When she’d first met Derek he’d seemed cocky, self-assured and assertive. He was all of those things but also it seemed somewhat dorkish and shy on other ways; all those little quirks had been delights to find out; the man hiding under all the rest.

“These are expert lashes, don’t underestimate their power.”  

Despite her reply being as joking as Cora’s own statement there was a deeper truth to her words. Beauty was a power all its own and she’d gained enough strength to appear more beautiful than she’d even been before. Beautiful enough to be noticed by as many people as she wished. Beautiful enough to be seen by Derek.

It was a rush she hadn’t expected to feel and suspected it could be rather addictive in its own way but, Jennifer had more important things to obsess over and nothing would get in the way of them. Nothing. Fortunately, her and Cora’s little shopping trip happened to be a useful little excursion for them both so Jennifer let Cora see the fabled boots and could almost watch the gears in her mind turning.

“Hmmmmmm, I’m sure that’s all it was.”

Jennifer chuckled slightly, “Though I never knew ‘shy’ could be a synonym for grumpy.” Another chuckle followed and she brushed her hair back. She hadn’t taken offence at the time (though Derek’s annoyance would’ve been enough for both of them) and she certainly didn’t now; it anything it just showed how far the pair of them had come.

A shame it would be all for nought.

“That’s not the kind of ‘out’ I mean and you damn well know it.” she laughed, trailing her fingers through a scarf that was on display, too tacky for her tastes. “I mean the out where you’re more likely to run into another person than a hungry alligator.”

Jennifer’s smirk told her well enough that her choice had been well made. Despite her less than social behaviour Cora wasn’t too difficult to read and, thankfully, she had taste. 

“Of course they will, I wouldn’t have suggested them otherwise.”

She watched the other pull them on, paused a moment then nodded her head with another grin.

“Perfect. Every man in forty yards will be drooling.”

[adelaidesource]

New picture of Adelaide with Haley Webb [via Instagram stories] | March 28, 2017

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@halexstorm

[bisexualvalkyries]

Jennifer Blake Week

Outfits

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Roots Tell Tales || Braeden & Jennifer

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braehavemercy‌:

Arms folded over her bust, Braeden’s silence was pensive as she considered Jennifer’s reply. The supernatural community coming together wasn’t likely to happen. Sure New Orleans had The Faction, but a truce for the sake of the city was a long way from a kumbaya circle jerk. There was too much distrust between each of them for them to Mighty Morph into a single entity and save their town. Too many agendas were at play. Too much bad blood.

“Say we can’t get the supernatural communities to play nice long enough to overcome whatever this,” she lifted a hand from the crook of her elbow to wave at the twisted, rotting thing in Jennifer’s hand, “is. What options does that leave us with? What’s the next step?”

A biting response surged to tip of her tongue, a barbed observation on the ancient, double-crossing hag not actually knowing everything, but Braeden grit her teeth against it. She choked it back and swallowed it down. They’d already established that Jennifer was no good at scathing banter. She’d have a better time shaking hands with a blender than exchanging verbal blows with the harpy. So, Braeden kept her tone glacial and diffident, maybe even polite if Jen got imaginative. 

Peering sidelong at Jennifer, she wondered, “Would it be a start?” She turned to face her fully then, uncrossing her arms to shove her hands into her leather jacket’s pockets. “Sacrificing the last witch, I mean? If the witch is killed and the Nemeton still isn’t appeased, what’s the next move?” Braeden had killed before, sometimes because she had to, other times because she’d been paid to. But the thought of sacrificing the witch… it wasn’t sitting well with her. 

An exhale expelled slow and heavy from her nostrils. “So if we kill a witch that could satisfy the Nemeton, possibly. And if we decide we don’t like those odds and chose to come at the Nemeton head on, it’ll likely take us all down with it. Did I get all that?” Braeden shifted her gaze onto the woods surrounding them. Her brows were pinched with thought, her expression inscrutable. A gentle wind brushed her hair from her shoulder before she shook the strands from her eyes. “Doesn’t leave us with a lot of options, does it?”

“No. I doubt that we can.” she repeated quietly, “It wasn’t always so though, long ago factions still kept within themselves but there was a mutual respect and desire to remain away from the view of humans that all but a few held with. There may not have been companionship, but there was honour. Now, between the reckless actions of wolves, hunters and vampires we’ve torn that honour asunder.”

“The next step appears to be this town being poisoned from the Bayou and being unable to even recognise it until it’s too late. Perhaps The Nemeton will be satisfied with this one town, perhaps it will desire the continent; we can’t know. Even when it’s forces speak directly to you... it’s never clear.”

She was one of the few who’d communed with the stump and lived. Many lost their minds in the process; perhaps she had too for a time. The misty haze of her centuries spent vying for vengeance sometimes made her think perhaps she’d been but a pawn of the stump but... No. She’d wanted to tear those wolves apart, she’d been willing to do what she did for the power needed. For herself as much as the Nemeton she’d left the streets of New Orleans red with the blood of treacherous alphas.  

A long sigh left her lips as she turned to gaze once again at the twisted roots. “It’s the most logical step to take. The Harvest Witch is what the Nemeton is owed; that debt is what woke it.  Should that fail,” the Darach shook her head, “It will need something more powerful to lull it to sleep. I don’t know what that could be.” Alphas, Original Vampires... A Darach. “Something like this hasn’t happened before since, as I said, Factions held enough honour to remain out of one another’s business.”

If that would-be king had simply left the coven to their affairs all would be well and little would be different. Her eyes flitted back to the young woman as she stated the ultimatum, “That would be the raw unvarnished fact of the matter yes. In either case the city is in a far more dire state than I anticipated. I could possibly learn more if I communed directly with the Nemeton but... I’m somewhat hesitant to greet it in person.” Even from here she felt its seductive call.    

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The Old and The New || Hayley & Jennifer

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lcstwxlf‌:

The point of no contact was an interesting one. “Were you keeping tabs on them and New Orleans?” Hayley countered. Maybe there had been no talking, but had Jennifer really been cold enough to just cut off every connection to those she’d cared about. Hayley couldn’t find the sense in it. No amount of power or revenge made hurting those around you alright. If you were okay with that, you had some serious underlying issues. “You’re much like I expected.” Hayley replied. “But, I don’t associate you with a monster. You’re more like a snake.” Jennifer was a clever and intelligent creature. One who lay in wait and struck when she felt threaten - and her bite was a deadly one. No, Jennifer wasn’t the big bad thing you read about in storybooks.  She was the creature who lay camouflaged in the weeds and struck when it was too late to escape.     

Hayley despised how Jennifer spoke, and even more that she was so blunt in all of her wording. The wolf hadn’t even managed to scrape together a high school diploma. It wasn’t that she were daft or anything of the sort; it just hadn’t come close to the importance she’d placed on surviving. Now, Hayley was regretting not getting in a few more vocabulary lessons. She needed a ‘Jennifer Blake Talk for Dummies’ book in front of her to make sense of some of wording the other used. “Jealous isn’t the word I would use.” Hayley said simply. Hayley wasn’t worried about Jennifer taking Derek or Cora away from her. The only thing she hated about the other was that she knew the two people she cared most for better than she did. That meant she knew where their weaknesses lay as well. She’d already broken their hearts once; Hayley feared that she may do the same thing again if given the chance. “I’m not some teenager that has a claim on Derek. I’m above the pettiness that is jealousy.” The alpha said with a low sigh. 

“We aren’t together.” Hayley amended quickly as she looked at Jennifer. Evergreen hues lingered on the woman’s as she made the point clear. Whatever disgruntled feelings that were flailing around inside her head weren’t confirmed nor had the pair of them made any admissions. They were partners, and the last thing Hayley needed was for someone else to suggest to Derek that she might think there was anything more going on. “We’re partners. We’ve chosen to leave the arrangement my parents made where it lay until I’ve gotten more settled in my position.” It wasn’t at all her focus, and no matter how entrancing Derek Hale could be, her loyalty would always lay with the pack before anything else. “You’re saying that it’s going to want more? What else could we even give it? More witches? More death?” This thing fed on spilled blood, and that was the only logical conclusion her mind could draw about what the interest on this thing could be.

She looked at Hayley for several moments before nodding slightly, there was no point in lying; Hayley would be able to tell. Given how little her power supply was right now she could hardly spend more energy attempting to camouflage more than her appearance. “Enough to know what happened to their family.” For a wild moment she’d considered returning when she’d heard the news and then her actions came to the fore and she’d gone back to the life she’d been trying to build. “There’s interesting literature on snakes; some cultures paint them as deceptive creatures, originator’s of sin. Others as beings of healing and knowledge. There are different sides to every creature.”

“Then what word would you use? Better to bring whatever it is to the fore so that there’s no confusion between us continuing this communication.” she said simply, “You’ve clearly negative feelings towards me because you know what I did,” Never mind why she did it, “But you didn’t seem to show it outwardly until the subject came to the Hales. So tell me, how would you describe your feelings?” Once again she was pulling from Emissarial training. Jennifer... Julia, had learned that wolves were creatures of feeling over logic and sometimes the best way to progress an understanding of them and aid in issues was to simply explore the emotion together. Of course, she and Hayley would do no such thing but this, whatever it was, needed to be put to bed for all their sakes. “No, you are’t. But you and He and Alpha’s to a pack and the relationship that comes from that should not be underestimated.”

That did cause her to pause and look at Hayley once more, frowning just a little at the admission, “You aren’t?” she asked, honestly surprised, she’d only witnessed them together for a few moments at the Charity Fundraiser for a few moments before slipping away but it had been enough to cause her to think that they were closer than merely ruling Alphas. “I see.” Was her diplomatic response, “Well, in either case, the wolves under your care seem stable.” And that was what mattered. “Think of it as akin to interest on a loan. The longer we go without settling the debt the Nemeton is owed the more it’s going to desire and I don’t know what that will be. Chaos is a very varied term. It could be anything from outright war to natural disasters.” she looked at Hayley, “And it will make whatever it desires happen, it’s power is not to be questioned.”   

[jenniferblake-blog1]

Writing Prompt Task: Cora & Jennifer

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halexstorm‌:

“Yeah…keep ‘em to yourself.”

Cora stated it plainly but there was a flicker of amusement etched on her face. Of course, she was fully aware of what people got up to behind closed doors and her brother was no exception from it. Yet when she thought of Derek, it was in a sibling way, a big brother who had protected her many times over.

“If you say so, Jen….”

Cora rolled her eyes but it was in a different way that most got to see her do it. This was a playful way that showed she didn’t mind the teasing that Jennifer often did. Jennifer was good for her brother and he was definitely happy and in love–it was the best thing she could witness for him if she was honest. There was always an opportunity for things to go wrong in life, there always would be, but right now it wasn’t something Cora was willing to think about. She was a realist and knew sometimes relationships lasted forever and others burnt out over time. Yet with Jennifer, it felt like the latter didn’t apply and this made the Hale wolf happy too. Life was good.

“All the way to there, huh?…well I suppose that’s better than what I first thought. I admit I thought you were about to get me in some thigh-high boots that would just spell out man-eater.”

Even though Cora definitely didn’t want the kind of boots she had mentioned and much preferred the ones Jen was on about, it did amuse the hell out of her to think about walking into her home and seeing the look on her family’s faces.

“Hey!….I do meet people…I’m not as bad as you assume, you know?—I don’t sit in my room for hours whilst you are out with my brother…I do..well…do things.”

Quite often Cora was alone and the ‘things’ she referred to, consisted of exercise, training and okay, hanging around bars–but still on her own.

“Wo—”

She didn’t even get the chance to finish the first word which left her lips when suddenly she was yanked through the doorway of a shop. 

“I am!…or….anxious…I can’t quite decide which it is at the moment….”

As her line of vision shifted to their surroundings, Cora smirked.

“Let me check that again….hell yeah I’m excited…”

“So long as you polite agree to do all I want for ever and ever I suppose I could keep the more illicit things between your brother and I.”

She fluttered her eyes as she said, oh-so innocent and yet not at all. Little moments like these were times she thought it was almost possible to put the past behind her but... no. It could never be enough, so it would have to be temporary.

“I do say. I do say so indeed.”  

The truth of things was, for now, thrust to the back of her mind as she tenaciously brought herself to the present and remain there for the rest of the day. She watched Cora’s expression and laughed slightly, knowing that few were able to see such a lighter aspect of the young wolf; what had made her so hard she wasn’t sure but life could be hard or people just born cautious. Still, she and Derek were together now and having Cora’s happiness for them was something she was grateful for.

Jennifer chuckled, “Well, if you want some thigh-high boots I’m sure we can go looking. It might be worth it just to see the look on Laura’s face.” she mused, unable not to grin a the picture.

“Do you?” Jennifer asked her, voice dripping with disbelief, “If I recall if took me three ‘family meetings’ before I say more than your backside as you left the room.” She told the other, playfully. “Derek just told me that you were shy.” She suspected it had been said to not hurt her feelings.

“And pray tell, what ‘things’ doth you get up to while I’m dragging your equally anti-social brother out and about? I swear if not for Laura I’d think all of you never left your home.”

Not that she’d begrudge them that, it was a pretty amazing place, it had barely changed over the past century.

Jennifer only smirked as the other looked around, nodding smugly at Cora’s reaction.

“C’mon, this way this way,” she half-sang, pulling Cora to the shoe display and gesturing grandly at the black, shin high shoes, “Welllllll,” she grinned happily, “Tell you love them, I won’t accept any other answer.”

[jenniferblake-blog1]

Roots Tell Tales || Braeden & Jennifer

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braehavemercy‌:

Though her eyes, physically, didn’t move, her internal eye-roll was enough to snap optic nerves. ‘Because you bring out the best in me, what can I say,’ was her internal response, which she kept tightly sealed away because engaging Jennifer was like pulling her own teeth. Wasted words, and all that. 

Great. Now she was quoting Jennifer fucking Blake. She’d need to wash her mouth out with soap when she got home. The last thing she cared about was applying the bitch’s ‘wisdom’ to her life. 

Braeden’s exhale was resolute. She let her distaste of the woman take a backseat, as it wasn’t helping and didn’t really matter. ‘Big picture, Braeden.’ The big picture was the fuckery in New Orleans, and that Derek had phoned-a-friend. Jenny from the Block was here to investigate, to see what could be done. Not only did animosity not help, but Jennifer couldn’t be fucked to care what she or anyone thought. 

It was a waste of more energy than Jennifer was worth, so Braeden let it go. Instead she stepped up to Jennifer and inspected the rotted, gnarled thing in her hand. ‘That’s how it starts.’ The words pushed Braeden upright. She stared up at the trees, watching as night darkened leaves swayed with a phantom wind. Unease pushed down on the back of her neck, the grip of foreboding tight on her nape, and she had to suppress a chill from carving down her spine.

“That sounds sub-optimal,” muttered Braeden flatly, arms folded in front of her as she squinted past the black canopy to the glittering expanse of stars far above them. After a quick chew of the inside of her bottom lip, her gaze flicked down to Jennifer again and she wondered, “Can anything be done? Any idea at the cause? How long will it take for the infection to spread?” 

Maybe a rapid fire questionnaire wasn’t the best way to go about it, but this was all important information that Alaric ‘needed’ to be made aware of. ASAP. The humans might not be able to do anything about what was going on with the Nemeton, but ignorance was a weakness none of them could afford.

Jennifer watched the younger woman for a minute and was satisfied at the lack of a verbal retort (what thoughts ran through her head Jennifer didn’t know and frankly she had no desire to know) never ask a question if you didn’t want the answer. Another piece of advice she’d learned from her coven in her younger years.

Witches had always been fonts of information they kept to themselves; druids instead learned all they could to share it and help the supernatural community... In the face of that one alpha had decided they should all die for a little extra power.

But, that was a past. It was finished on both side. The coven who’d raised her and wolves who’s ripped it all away were little more than bones now. She was the only being left who’d borne witness to all the misery. And now here she was dealing with even more. At least in this case she could be certain it was nothing to do with her.      

“Quite.” Jennifer deadpanned, it was something of a still to put so much feeling into a one-word reply but give the other was so convinced she over did it with her speech then why not play it up and out to see what happened. “And at this point it’s looking to be the only outcome that will be enacted. Unless all of the supernatural community comes together to try and manage it.”

It was too big of a job for just one person, or even just one faction. “I don’t know.” she answered quietly, shaking her head a little. “The Nemeton’s fickle. It hasn’t been active because one it wakes it can’t be controlled. The Harvest ritual kept it asleep for lack of a better term. We could give it the last witch and that death may not be enough.”

It may be all they could do was try and destroy it but that would be equally as difficult; it was a sentient being, it would try to defend itself however it could. “As for a time frame? At this point I’d say slow. It we act poorly or try and burn the bayou down or something then it will only expedite its actions.” she explained with a sigh.    

[halexstorm]

Wolf at the door || Cora & Jen

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halexstorm‌:

“Don’t mention the alpha pack to me. I don’t care anymore.”

There was little she could say to Jennifer than she’d not already said, unless it was fuelled by the hurt and anger which resided in her gut and the other female really wouldn’t want her to unleash any of that. Cora had been restraining it for a very long time and Jennifer had just been witness to only a very small part of it.

“Do not tell me what my problem is! You know nothing about me–you only thought you did. You lost the right to lecture on what’s wrong with me once you turned into a deceitful bitch.”

The youngest Hale had to clench her jaw tightly closed, her own way of keeping control, but the flex in her jawline gave it away if observed close enough.        

Cora and Derek hadn’t really spoken much about Jennifer’s arrival, only the fact that she had turned up. Maybe it was because her brother knew she wasn’t happy about it at all. Though when Cora had found out where Jennifer was staying, she’d carefully neglected to mention that she would be going to see her. Of course, she knew her brother would warn her against doing so, hence why she didn’t tell him. 

“I have thought alot…you have had far too much of my thoughts–so quit thinking you can read me.”

It had taken so long to forget about Jennifer–in truth, the wolf could never forget about her–especially what she had done to Derek–to her too. Yet things had been a little better recently and now it just seemed to have turned her thoughts upside down once more. 

“It might be rubbing salt in a wound by talking about it….but salt heals things…and there’s a wound there that may never heal…but he deserves that chance…for you to explain and so much more.”

She inhaled deeply and shook her head slowly, knowing her brother might not be over the moon with the fact she had punched Jennifer, but at this moment in time, she couldn’t give a damn.  

“I remember that time yes…but my guard was down and I trusted you!”–in other words, Cora didn’t mind her knowing she lied about boots. She was determined not to show her she was lying now though. Perhaps she wasn’t doing such a good job of it like she first thought.

–which really did mean it was time to go. 

“You should never have left it this long….not if you truly were sorry…”

The expression she shot her was angry and that was a good mask to use because what was hidden underneath, was far more vulnerable and Cora never wanted her to see that.

“Just stay away from me. I’ll do the same with you.”

Slowly she backed her way towards the door, not even trusting Jennifer enough to turn her back on her.

A far cry from how things used to be…

…and that was the saddest part of it all. 

“Maybe not. But you don’t everything you think you do.”

Not in regards to her actions, no, those were all they’d been. She’d stolen lives to fuel her power and rip apart that unnatural pack of alphas built on the bloodshed of those they were supposed to protect. But there was more, more even Derek didn’t know completely. It wasn’t like they had time to talk after all had come to light.

“Yes I do.” she sighed, “You’re doing it again. You don’t want me to know you, and odds are I don’t like I once did; things have changed.” Between her and Kate Argent, though she didn’t mention that name.

“But I did know you.” And Cora had known her, as least as she’d have liked to have been known; her time with the Hales was still the happiest she’d ever been, regardless of the disastrous way it had ended.

She raised a brow, despite the pain the movement caused her so recently punched face, and looked at Cora for a moment. Being able to read her wasn’t difficult because the wolf was emotionally led. Cora couldn’t change that about herself; it was who she was. And Jennifer wasn’t about to tell Derek that Cora had come to her; that would only create tension between the two wolves that wasn’t needed.

“If that makes you feel better.” It wouldn’t frankly Jennifer could probably resurrect all of Cora’s family and she wouldn’t be happy with her; betrayal ran too deep.

It couldn’t be changed. And Jennifer didn’t want to change it. The past was the past. It was all she had to try and build a future from; one different from what had happened... She’d been doing it too until Derek had gotten in touch, may as well throw all that progress out of the window.

“Salt heals wounds, you’re right.” she nodded, “So we’ll talk. But I’m afraid you don’t get to dictate when that happens.” That was for Derek to do.

“Does that matter?” she asked, frowning slightly, “You’re doing the same things now that tell me what you’re thinking,” If anything it was even easier given how emotional she was; as if the opening punch didn’t give any of that away.

“I was sorry, not suicidal.” she replied with a shrug, “What do you think the Hale pack would’ve done the moment they realised I was back in New Orleans? Would they have heard me out, or struck first?” he gently tapped where she’d been hit as if to prove her point.

“That won’t be possible, but I’ll try.” she was here to do a job for Derek and she’d do all that was needed to see that done, even if it meant needing to be around Cora far more than she wished. Once upon a time the other would’ve jumped at that chance.

It was all wasted...

But she wouldn’t change a thing. She was sorry it happened but couldn’t regret it.  

[jenniferblake-blog1]

The Old and The New || Hayley & Jennifer

[jenniferblake-blog1]

lcstwxlf‌:

Hayley knew that was true, but did she go as far as to say that she didn’t think either of those options would’ve truly satisfied her curiosity.  “I think we both know that both of those methods of communication would’ve left us wondering more about the other. You can disguise who you are over through the phone or the computer. It’s harder to do in person.” From what she knew of the other though, Jennifer seemed to have worked out the latter to a near perfect science. Hayley was having trouble getting anything off her that Jennifer didn’t already want her to see. “I don’t think I’ll be making any house calls anytime soon.” That sounded a whole lot like walking into the den with a hungry lion. No thanks. “Would you expect any less of me when I’ve heard the things you’ve done to the people I care for?” Surely the idea of loyalty wasn’t completely lost on the other, even if she couldn’t maintain such a feat herself.

“Do you always speak like you’re a Hallmark card or some inspirational quote generator?” Hayley muttered back. She hadn’t come here to be force fed things like this. Hayley wouldn’t take such reflective advice from someone she liked, much less the likes of Jennifer. Her eyes read more clearly than the rest of her body language. Hayley could reel in her expressions and body language enough to cover most of the anger that was flowing through her, but her eyes were another story. They’d always housed the emotions that rolled around behind the stoic facade she often kept up. “I wouldn’t expect him too.” Hayley replied a bit curtly, surprised that some small flare of jealousy shot through her gut. There was something about the way that Jennifer knew more about Derek - even if it was in the past, that made her feel as if she didn’t know him at all. As much as she’d like to say that she knew him better, that wasn’t the truth. Hayley might’ve been growing closer to him and knew the man he was now, but the comprehensive picture was something only Jennifer held. “Derek always puts the pack first.” Hayley agreed. She didn’t say much more, knowing everything the other had said was true enough. “And there’s nothing else that would satisfy it other than the death of the last harvest witch?” She asked, glancing at Jennifer with an arch to her brow. If the answer was yes, they were all fucked because Hayley didn’t know how she or Marcel was ever going to let Davina wind up dead.

Jennifer looked over at the younger woman and unashamedly watched her for a few moments, “I haven’t spoken a word of or made any contact to get in touch with Derek since the day I left this city.” she said evenly, “I’m a painful past for both of us so quite honestly? We’d have been better off having never have met.” Better she remain wholly convinced Jennifer was the evil bitch through and through who left the Hale’s heartbroken; things always got messy when the past returned and wasn’t living up to what it was described to be. “Tell me though,” she blinked and gestured slightly at herself, “Am I everything you expected and more?” her tone held a hint of irony to it; she knew after all that most in this city reviled her yet none had bothered to ask why she’d decided to kill the alpha back... None of them knew Julia Baccari. “Am I the monster you’ve heard about, proven at first glance?”    

She wasn’t asking in some attempt to clear her name, she was very much guilty of the crimes Hayley knew of, and perhaps more committed before she’d made her return to New Orleans in the late 70′s. Jennifer chuckled lightly, “I’m over two hundred years old and teach English Literature in a university; I think my diction’s a little more highly considered than most.” She recognised the tone in the other’s voice and sighed, “I have no problem with you hating me, but please rise above jealousy. I’m no threat to what you and Derek have; if anything I suspect I’ll only make you stronger. But, my being here will be painful for him, and for Cora; the last thing any of us need is jealousy of even the smallest degree. It’s a chaotic emotion.” And the Nemeton could feed and grow any chaos it find... if they turned on one another the thing would feast.  

“The fact of the matter is I’m old and I know him. But you and He are together, you both lead your packs and from the little I’ve seen of the wolves here you do it well. And believe me I know a thing or two about wolf packs.” She’d been raised, and for a time worked to aid alpha’s herself... Perhaps in some way that was coming through now, however slightly. “He has, and will continue to do so.” And Hayley was pack, and she was not. At the other’s question she signed and looked away slowly, shaking her head, “I don’t know.” she said quietly, “But the more time goes on the more I suspect even that won’t be enough to satisfy its craving.”

[jenniferblake-blog1]

Roots Tell Tales || Braeden & Jennifer

[jenniferblake-blog1]

braehavemercy‌:

It didn’t come as a surprise to her when Jennifer rolled with the insult instead of getting bristled by it. Braeden wouldn’t lie and say that she wasn’t trying to get a reaction out of the bitch, but she hadn’t honestly been expecting one. On their few previous interactions it’d been more than clear that Jennifer Blake had all the personality of a dirty shoelace. Except that would be an insult to shoelaces, wouldn’t it?

She had to be an amazing fuck. Nothing else made sense. Aside from her pretty face, Braeden was having a hard time imagining what it was that Derek had ever seen in her. She didn’t know and, at this point, it mattered as much as her opinion of the druid. Not at all. Their sordid past was history and Jen was back on the Alpha’s request. 

The rest was overprotective bullshit on her part. Braeden wouldn’t apologize for it, but she had enough self awareness to know that her problem with Jennifer amounted to nothing. It wasn’t even worth threatening her to stay away from Derek. That wasn’t Braeden’s place and it wasn’t her call, so she stood there, cleaning her nails with a butterfly knife, fighting the urge to roll her eyes with everything she had in her. 

“Or how little I think of you,” she corrected under her breath in spite of herself, twisting her knife back into concealment before tucking it into her pocket. Braeden shouldn’t have bothered talking. It wasn’t worth clarifying that she knew perfectly well the different schools of magic, she just couldn’t imagine her being interested in anything that didn’t require blood sacrifice. 

She fucking knew the jab Braeden was going for. She was just taking it literally to be difficult. Jennifer made everything so literal that having a sass-off with the bitch was exhausting. 

There was some satisfaction, at least, when Jennifer finally looked up to watch her approach, tense with Braeden’s steps nearer to her position. She had no intention of attacking her unprovoked, but it was nice to see her guard up, just in case. 

“Yeah, I don’t care,” replied Braeden to Jennifer’s explanation on why she talked like a King James bible. A mental raspberry blew internally. She’d tested the waters of their antagonism for something resembling repartee. Since those waters had come back tepid and stale, she wasn’t really interested in a back and forth. 

Ignoring the shade Jennifer was casting her way, when the magus invited her over for a closer look, Braeden took the few steps closer. She leaned in to look at the root in her hand, frowning at its gnarled, twisted visage. At the other’s question, she supplied a low, “It looks sick, diseased almost.” Braeden inhaled and her frown deepened. “I’m guessing it’s not supposed to smell like that, either.”

She pushed up from her knees, inspecting Jennifer’s features as she asked, “Any guesses at the cause?”

Frankly, Jennifer was beyond caring what the woman thought of her. If she wanted witty conversation as way to one-up or assert dominance then she’d be sorely disappointed. Once upon a time perhaps she’d have engaged, while she was attempting to gain her revenge she likely would’ve as well. Now? She was trying to find who she was and where she fit in. Trying to one up an angry little girl wasn’t going to help in either of those endeavors. 

Jennifer heard the others comment but didn’t bother responding to it. Wonder of wonders it seemed they thought equal in one regard: the infinitesimal value of the other. And while she planned on not engaging fully that didn’t mean she couldn’t attempt dissuasion in other ways: such as going on pointedly long explanations on different schools of magic in the hopes of inciting boredom.

“Then why make the comment?” she responded cooly, “If you don’t care about something don’t talk about it. Wasted words are better left unsaid.” Again, she took on an almost lecturing tone, deliberately playing up her age and experience.

She made no sarcastic comment to the others assessment of the root but instead nodded and placed it in her bag again. “That’s how it starts.” she explained, resting he hands on her lap and looking out into the darkness of the bayou as though she could see a great deal hidden within, the magic she was searching for at work.

“No. The Nemeton is a natural thing, even with all it’s magical power it has roots, its connected to the ecosystem here and it will influence that unseen while it builds power to branch out. There recent bird deaths in the area? The Nemeton called them, their deaths seeped into the bayou grounds and were drawn into it. Now its sphere of influence and power has grown and its rotting these plants from the bottom up.”  

“Soon it’ll start to show, they’ll become twisted and dark, likely poison. And from there the animals that feed on them will grow sick, rabid, and so on up the food chain to us and those above us.” she sighed, “Until all around it has dissolved to chaos.“

[jenniferblake-blog1]

Writing Prompt Task: Cora & Jennifer

[jenniferblake-blog1]

halexstorm‌:

Cora raised her hand as if she was trying to silence Jennifer words, while all the time sporting a playful grin on her own face. 

“I really don’t wanna hear what my brother couldn’t keep his eyes off!…though I guess your boots are the least intimate thing you could have said.”

She laughed freely and even though Cora had always had a hard edge to her, she was so much more open and unguarded with those she trusted. There was no need for her to be any other way. It was the 1970′s and life was good–she had her family around her and the pack was strong. Jennifer was someone she liked spending time with even if she could be a little too persuasive at times.

“As long as you know the only reason I am more than on board with this is that you mentioned buying me some boots, okay?”

Cora had always loved black leather boots, especially the biker kind with more than a couple of buckles to them. Though she wasn’t sure these were the type of boots Jennifer had in mind. 

“Oh give up…that barman looks and talks to everyone that way. It’s his job, Jen–it’s what he does best.”

She knew Jennifer was right, she had sensed it–the smell–the way his breath hitched and how his heartbeat quickened around her. She was definitely glad he couldn’t tell the same with her. 

“Hmm….we shall see.”

She shot the other female a quick sideward glance and gave her a playful look. 

Jennifer’s grin only widened as the other became uncomfortable; it was entertaining seeing the usually fearless Cora finally put off by something.

“Oh, but I have such a long list of things that fit that description.” she said lightly, fluttering her eyelashes at the other.

It had taken time and care but Jennifer had managed to win Cora over. The other members of the family had of course been wary too but Tahlia and Laura, even Peter had accepted her quite quickly; Cora less so. But now, here they were and Jennifer just wanted to live in this moment. The happiness of it and the peace it afforded. It was so easy to just fall into this for as long as she possibly could.

“I am well aware I had to bribe you into coming here yes.” she nodded solemnly, “But a win is a win.”

“Besides, I’ve already found the perfect pair; they aren’t leather but they are black and they come allllll the way to here.” she smirked, poking just under her knee as she spoke.

“Uh-uh.” Jennifer shook her head, pulling the other forward, “Not true, I have a knack for seeing these things. The boy likes you and you my lady friend, need to get out and meet people!”

Besides, in a the nicest possible way providing Cora with a distraction could give her and Derek some more, quality time... Before things changed.

“Indeed we shall, oh! Here we are!”

She chuckled and half-yanked the other into the show shop and looked around happily, “Are you exciiiiited?”    

[agirlwithsevenloadedpens]

[jenniferblake-blog1]

@walkthroughhale

[jenniferblake-blog1]

Roots Tell Tales || Braeden & Jennifer

[jenniferblake-blog1]

braehavemercy‌:        

Still leaning casually on her tree, Braeden quirked a bored eyebrow at Jennifer’s back before shaking her head and sighing softly. She unfolded an arm from over her chest and reached for the butterfly knife always stashed in her pocket. Swinging it open, she dropped her focus from the other woman to her hands and began to clean and shape her nails. 

If their past interactions were any indication, Braeden hadn’t expected a ‘so nice to see you again,’ from the magus. Seeing as she hadn’t expected to stumble upon Jennifer in the middle of the fucking Bayou, either, her interest in a hissing contest with her had maxed out at non-existent. Jenny from the Block wasn’t hissing, per se, but the cold, impassive, condescension was as good a fuck you as any. 

Not looking up from her blade pushing back her cuticles, Braeden mumbled a flat, disinterested, “Finally getting around to building your unholy temple, I see. Will you be feasting on infant hearts, or simply bathing in their blood?” She moved her hand away from her knife, splaying her fingers to get a good look at them in the torchlight. 

If Jennifer wanted to have pissing contest for ‘most sarcastic bitch,’ Braeden was game. She didn’t have centuries –or however long Jennifer had been plaguing the Earth– under her belt, but she could salt an ocean with her contention. She’d hold her own just fine.

Finally, a real answer from the mage. Kind of. A poetic answer, if not a real one.

A huff sounded from Braeden, who’d gone back to cleaning her nails with her butterfly knife. “Due to fools and their actions,” she repeated quietly back to herself, shaking her head, smirk toying with the edges of her mouth as she scraped some dirt out from under a nail. “Cora warned me you talk like an actor from the renaissance fair. Guess that explains the torch light, too.”

Braeden shut her knife with a twirl of her wrist before stashing it into her pocket once more. Pushing off of the tree she’d been lounging against, she strolled the yards between them and stopped adjacent to Jennifer, a few feet between them so the hag didn’t think she was trying to get cozy. 

Staring up at the tree Jen was digging up the roots of, she wondered in the same casual tone they’d been exchanging from the get go, “What’s the prognosis?”

“That would depend entirely on what I wanted out of the ritual.” Jennifer deadpanned back, “Infant hearts are most often used in a desperate need to amass a great deal of power; their purity makes them power jacks of a sort allowing even the most mediocre of witch to perform advanced spellcraft without much difficulty.”

She brushed a strand of hair back and continued to examine the roots, the board tone of her voice a simple yet effective brush off. She wasn’t antagonistic to the other as much as she simply didn’t care about her. What was one more angry girl in the world when there were already so many? Hell, she’d been one too at one point. Now? She was simply a tired old woman, despite her youthful appearance.

“If I wanted to protect myself from being tracked by almost any means necessary then bathing in the blood of victims I’d chosen and prepped beforehand would ensure that only the most powerful of witches would be able to find me for quite some time.” she continued with a run down of the ingredients the other had listed.  

“However, both those spells fall more with pagan magic rather than druidic craft so that you suggest them to begin with highlights how little you know about any kind of magic.” she finished. Of course Jennifer could use both and use them well but she was Darach by definition and practice, she rarely switched trades unless necessary.

She held her own kind of balance that way and she was as loathe to upset that as she was any form of it.

She rose up slightly and her gaze flitted to follow the other as she moved closer; Jennifer wasn’t about to let her guard down, especially against yet another person who already hated her. The more people she met here the more tempting it was to simply leave... If not for Derek requesting her aid she’d have certainly gone by now.

“The torch is so I can see, not all of us can function as well in the dark but at night I’m less likely to run into others.” Unfortunately this one just had to come upon her. “My diction is educated because I’ve read a lot of books.” she finished simply.

“If I could tell that by simply looking at the roots I wouldn’t be here gathering samples.” she deadpanned, “However, look at this.” she pulled another twisted root from the ground and turned it for the other to look at, “How does this look to you?”

[jenniferblake-blog1]

The Old and The New || Hayley & Jennifer

[jenniferblake-blog1]

lcstwxlf‌:

Hayley rolled her eyes. “Because you aren’t in the phone directory, and I left Yahoo back in my teenage years.” She replied dryly. Did Jennifer really expect her to whip out Skype or Facetime to get this done? They’d never even met in person, and Hayley could depend on technology to make her points. That was part of the reason, anyways. The wolf had also been admittedly curious about who Jennifer was and what she was like. She wished to know just how the other had managed to get so close only to cut two of the people she cared about most off at the knees without turning back. Hayley could be ruthless, cruel even, but that was always directed at someone who’d wronged her. It was never an emotion that turned towards people she cared about.  “Regardless, I’m here now. So, after this, I’ll be sure to get all your information so I can call next time.” She said sarcastically as she brought herself out of her thoughts. Hayley was wary of letting Jennifer noticing how in her own head she could get when it came to this entire ordeal.

“I wasn’t looking for information on your travel plans, but good to know.” Hayley’s anger with Jennifer wasn’t anything personal. It stemmed from the emotions she held for both Cora and Derek. She’d never understand how someone could do so much damage to two people when they’d been aware of what they’d already been forced to survive. It was throwing salt on an infected wound, and Hayley would never be able to find it within herself to forgive Jennifer for that. “I’m not looking to step on any arrangements you have with Derek. This is a fight that started long before I was born, and I’m only stepping in as things are ramping up again.” Hayley said, glancing at one of the aisles as her ears picked up on someone passing through. “I only intend to be around until the initial shock or whatever wears off. That way we aren’t all at some standstill for weeks.” Hayley admitted. This wasn’t her fight, and as much as she might want to try and keep Cora and Derek the hell away from the creature across from her, she couldn’t make that choice for them. “Has it ever been this bad, or do you have any kind of idea of where we are timewise before it kicks off?” She asked, grasping at straws as to how they prepared for this fight.

Jennifer met her gaze evenly, no change in her expression, “Professor Blake has both a phone number and email on the university website.” she replied, “It would likely save you trouble in future to contact me there. Or failing that I’ll give you my address before you leave; though I’d prefer you forewarn me of a visit before turning up.” she explained to the other, watching her for a moment before turning her attention back to the book in her hands, placing it on the table before looking back at the shelf and delicately plucking another large hardback from the row. She noticed the other had been quiet for a few moments and didn’t comment on it; she’d rather the other show a capacity for thought rather than bluster. “Then we shouldn’t have any problems.” Jennifer nodded, turning back, “I’m sure you’d rather not spend more time than you have to around someone you revile.” The girl knew her story, yes, but only parts of it. Not even Derek knew it all, but she’d tell him when he asked now.. He deserved to know of Julia Baccari, even if so few others did.

“We rarely find things were looking for so much as things we aren’t.” she replied coolly, well aware the other couldn’t stand her. She supposed it made sense but there was something rather irritating in having so many of the people she was expected to help so openly hostile. If Derek hadn’t been the one to call she likely wouldn’t have journeyed back to New Orleans at all. “That’s good. He wouldn’t thank you for it.” And neither would she. “You won’t have long to step in for then, Derek takes blows better than most and he’s loyal to his position as leader. He was the one who asked me to be here. He’ll want to put what we had to bed before this is over.” Regardless of how painful it would be for both of them. She knew him though, despite everything she knew him and he wouldn’t let himself wallow for long before the need for answers took over; answers about them and about the Nemeton. “I’d be more worried about Cora. I’m only waiting for her to appear and put her claws to my throat.” The younger Hale always gave into her emotions first. “No.” she answered after a pause, “The Harvest ritual has never been stopped before. It kept it sated. Now? With every passing moment it will want more. It’s like interest on a loan, only the payment is chaos and life. The chaos alone makes it near-impossible to predict.”