#angelicallyelena

[dwarfstaralloy]

It's a quarter to two in the morning, a storm beginning to brew outside and Elena suddenly seeming to realize the time. Part of her hesitates as she grips the phone in her hands, considering driving back to her apartment before she decides against it. She just didn't want to be behind the wheel in this weather, not with the memory of her parents car crash in her mind. [text] I know it's late but the storms getting bad, can you pick me up? I'm at the college library.

Ray is too wired to sleep. The kids are in bed - most of them, anyway. He hopes Elena is back at her apartment instead of out in this weather, but she is an adult now, and he cannot - will not - hover like the overprotective father-figure he has become. Instead, Ray frets in his lab, working on one of his many projects until it is a reasonable hour to text Elena and make sure she is safe.

Or at least, that is the plan. His phone vibrating on his desk signals a text, and he casts a quick glance at it. Elena’s name pops up, and he panics for a second before clicking on the text. A breath of relief, and he types a quick response.

[ text ] Of course. On my way.

[dwarfstaralloy]

instagram profile ft. @angelicallyelena

[dwarfstaralloy]

"Alright, perfect." Elena states with a smile and a slight hair flip as she almost seems to bounce when she turns back toward him. "Because I did volunteer you to speak, tomorrow, since our other guest speaker had to pull out." It also didn't hurt to gain a few bonus points with the professor. (angelicallyelena)

Ray narrowed his eyes at his niece, his lips twitching as he fought an amused smile. “What am I supposed to speak about? What time is this?” He crossed his arms across his chest and sighed. “There’s no way for me to get out of this, is there?”

[dwarfstaralloy]

"I know. And, hopefully we won't have to sue or buy out any tabloids this time." While the issue had been serious in the past, her tone is more comical, trying to be lighthearted. "I know I don't say this that often but, I'm really glad you're my godfather. Not because you can buy out mags or the like, but you and Aunt Anna care about us so much. You protect us even when we don't realize we need it. So, thank you. You're the best adoptive father I could ask for." Oh god, she was getting mushy.

He laughed, just a little, because while the articles that had led to him buying out or suing the tabloids had been offensive, he could now look back on them with much less anger. Ray’s amusement faded into something gentler as she spoke, and the smile on his face was a little sad. As much as he loved his kids, he did wish that the Gilberts had never lost their parents. He had tried to do his best by them, and it was heartwarming to know Elena appreciated it. “I love you, kiddo. I’d do anything for you and your siblings, you know that.” He reached out, grin spreading slightly as he tugged her into a hug. “You’re the best adoptive oldest child I could ask for.”

[dwarfstaralloy]

"Ye of so little faith! I would never do anything to stir up that. I mean seriously, what's the worst that they've ever written about me?" There's a pause. "Don't answer that. It's just a club opening. At most there'll be a few shots of me dancing, nothing too bad, I promise." Perhaps when she was in high school it was more about the attention she would get from being a little more wild but Elena now understood that what she did also reflected on him and his company, their whole family.

Ray snorted disbelievingly, poised to actually answer her before she hastily corrected herself. The right side of his mouth curved into a little bit of a smirk. It was not that he did not trust Elena, because he did. He knew she would be careful, but he also knew that the tabloids would look for anything to write about her. Their family was a favourite for the tabloids, had been since he had taken the Gilberts in, and while Ray would do everything in his power to protect his kids, it was not always possible. “I know. But the tabloids can and will twist anything to make a headline. So let me know if you need me.”

[dwarfstaralloy]

"Who would have thought we'd be talking about fighting styles, about /me/ fighting anyone, a few years ago?" Elena questioned though it was more to herself. So much had changed in her life since the car crash that had killed her parents and it felt as if she was on a never ending rollarcoaster. "Crap, that reminds me, I won't be able to pick up Jeremy on Friday, I was invited to an event." And by event she meant a party, at a new club, oh the joys of being over eighteen and a popular socialite.

He huffed out a laugh that was only partially bitter. God, but how their lives had changed in just a few years. “Never thought you would need to know anything beyond self-defence, but with everything that’s happened? It’s gotten important.” It was something Elena already knew, but he had to still voice the thought. He focused on his goddaughter, narrowing his eyes at her. “An event?” There was a skeptical tone to his voice, but he also knew she was old enough to be safe. “Try not to do anything that’ll splash you on the tabloids. Especially nothing that’ll bring up the supernatural or metas. And if anything happens, call me.”

[dwarfstaralloy]

Elena didn't even need him to voice his thoughts for her to know what her uncle was thinking. His bias against Damon seemed to know no bounds, which was rather ironic given Aunt Anna's initial approval of him over Stefan. In any case Elena sighed and nodded her head. "I can do that, I doubt Meredith will have an issue and Barry's cool. I'll still likely bring it up to Damon... and Stefan though. Can't discount their years of knowledge. Now /that/ would be irresponsible."

He had to concede to her point, sighing a little heavily as he nodded. “Yeah, you do that. But keep in mind that their fighting styles may have become coloured by their supernatural abilities, so it might not work for you.” Ray spread his hands and shrugged. “Same with Barry. I’m sure you’ll be able to put together a fighting style all your own from training with all of them.”

[dwarfstaralloy]

"Damon knows how to fight, classically trained even." Elena states with a small smirk upon her features. She knows that now that he knows about what Stefan and Damon actually are, this will be out of the question-- she's lucky he didn't forbid her still being friends with them, not that she'd listen if he had. "It depends, I guess, on who would be up for working with me. Barry and I might be more eventually matched. Or even Meredith. She's trained as a hunter."

His lips pressed together in a tight line when she brought up the older Salvatore brothers. He had never liked Damon, and after finding out what he was, and what he had done, he never would. But he knew Damon would protect Elena, would not betray her friendship. It was the only reason he put up with the vampire. Ray would have preferred she suggest Stefan if she had to train with a vampire. He pressed the bridge of his road when she finally landed on more sensible suggestions. “I’d go with Meredith. She knows you well enough to train with you, though you should probably occasionally train with Barry too, so you can let loose with your abilities.” And then he shrugged wryly and shot her a look, adding, “But what do I know. You’ll do what you’re comfortable with.”