#[ josie saltzman / asiphon. ]

[cursedbcrn]

JOSIE SALTZMAN ( @asiphon ) wanted ﹟  fix-it﹕ a  moment  in  sender  &  receiver’s  relationship  rewritten  to  have  a  positive  outcome ,  from  the  receiver’s  pov

She mumbles a few choice curse words under her breath as she hurries down the hallway, words that would have earned her a stern glare from Hayley had she overheard what she is saying (followed by a phone call to Kol to yell at him for teaching her said words). She was supposed to meet Henry at the library after her potions class, but she forgot to grab the letter that Lisina sent over for him so she doubled back, but she stops short when she seesa familiar figure kneeling at her door, looking under the wood like she might be able to peer inside.

"Jo?" Hope asks warily, all thoughts of Henry disappearing from her mind at this odd occurrence. She hassnever been especially close with the Saltzman twins, despite the history that their parents shared. It's not like they know of it in the first place, and Hope has had enough clashes with the two of them that she has learned to steer clear. "Can I help you?"

She plants herself next to her door with her arms crossed over her chest, trying (and probably failing) to look intimidating. Josie on the other hand, looks torn between wanting to disappear into the ether and crying, and for whatever reason, that makes Hope soften her stance just slightly. But before she can say another word, the siphon spins on her heel and darts across the hallway, and the slam of the door echoes down the hallway.

"O...kay then," she muttered to herself. Turning to face her door, she goes to unlock it and pauses, wondering if maybe Josie had spelled the door to do something. She doesn't feel any traces of magic, other than the latent magic that lived inside the walls of the school. She cycled through a few different detection spells that she'd learned over the years, but her door was just a door.

Hope finally unlocks it and steps inside, her shoe coming down on a folded piece of paper that had been slipped under the door. She sees her name written in familiar, loopy handwriting and her confusion only grows as she picks up the handwritten note. She looks over her shoulder at the door to the Saltzmans' room, where she knows Josie is hiding inside. Had Hope just come across her in the perfect moment she had tried to secretly slip a note under her door?

Kicking the door shut behind her, the tribrid stands just inside the entryway and unfolds the piece of notebook paper in her hands. Her gaze scans the page quickly, and her eyebrows furrow for a moment before raising up to her hairline in surprise. Without even noticing, there's a small smile on her lips as she reads the words over and over again like she can't believe they're real.

She had been expecting insults, maybe some kind of mean message that was supposed to be "anonymous", and that's why Josie had run away, caught in the act. But her eyes re-read the words again and she couldn't have been more wrong.

Pulling open her door once more, Hope crosses the hallway and knocks on the door, but she isn't surprised when she receives no answer. Tilting her head just slightly, she can hear a quiet shifting inside, confirming that Josie is still in there. She knocks again, and she looks up and down the hallway quickly before leaning in closer to the door. "I know you're in there, Josie. Will you please let me in? I don't really want to... do this through a door. I'm not mad, I swear."

[nexusvcrti]

Hope looks.. fragile. Maybe it's just a trick of the light, or the way she moves because her physical appearance hasn't changed at all. She's as beautiful as ever, if not more so, and it takes an absurd amount of willpower for her to not reach over and brush back some of her hair. With a tentative smile, and her fingers twisting together, Josie glances towards the door - Freya won't be gone for long, but at least she'd been okay with giving them a bit of space to talk.

"Hope. Hi." It comes out in a breath, her smile widening ever so slightly when Hope is sitting up a bit more fully. "Not too long. A few hours, maybe. To be honest, I thought maybe it would be pretty instant. I guess it differs on person..?" It's a rhetorical question, just wondering aloud really. "But I wanted to see you. Before you make the change, I mean. And you know, while you do. If you're going to do it immediately. I.. am nervous." She finally relents and hangs her head with a smile and a laugh. "Sorry."

@asiphon is rambling and it's kind of adorable, enough that a tired smile springs to Hope's lips. But it soon fades with the realization that she can't hear Josie's heartbeat. It's a sound that she had memorized when she was nine years old, always just across the hallway, different from how Lizzie's was a little more erratic. It's unsettling how quiet the world seems in this moment, and she notices it most because that steady cadence she's used to is inaudible to her in the moment.

"It's okay," she nods, and she pulls her legs up so they're curled under her, giving Josie room to sit on the bed if she wants. "You wanted to see me like this?" It must seem underwhelming to the brunette, same old Hope but without all of the extra stuff that makes her special enough to want to murder. But she's hesitant about letting her stay in the room while she completes her transition. What if she can't control the bloodlust? That was what happened with her father, and her aunts and uncles. They gave in to the instinct to feed and hunt, and Hope refused to repeat that cycle. "I'll need a bloodbag to finish the transition, but it's probably best if you wait outside while I do... I don't want to hurt you, even accidentally." // continued from xx

[nexusvcrti]

Hope rolls her eyes at Josie's first statement. "Thank you for not murdering me, even though you could have," she pitches her voice slightly higher to mimic Josie's. "Why, you're welcome, Jo. Don't mention it." The tribrid glances at the rear view mirror, nothing but trees and empty road behind them. "You're the one who kept insisting that you won't stop trying to bring my humanity back. You should consider yourself lucky I brought you along. Now you won't have to waste precious energy to find where I am." Her head leans against the headrest lazily as she lets the car really speed down the empty stretch of highway. She speaks as nonchalantly as if they were trying to figure out what to have for lunch.

The shrill chirp of her cell phone interrupts them and Hope fishes the device out of her pocket and presses a button to answer the call. "Hello Agatha," she sings out in greeting. "Oh, sorry, did I ruin your surprise? I thought I'd cut right to the chase since we're all busy people. You might want to tell Greg the Alpha and whoever your vampire is that I'm on my way. Okay great chat, bye bye now." Hope hangs up the phone with her message delivered and she focuses back on Josie.

"C'mon, it's a long drive to Florida. I know you're the resident pouty face champion, but you can't pout the entire ride there."

@nexusvcrti / cont.

Her entire body locks up, and she's afraid of what might come next — Whether Hope's lack of humanity will show through or if she had made a correct assumption about what lies beneath. She can't even blink when Hope reaches out to touch her - though she's certain if she could, she would flinch back. Instead, hair is tucked behind her ear and she's reminded of when her uncle had done the exact same.

The only difference is Hope's thumb along her lower lip - far more intimate than anything they've ever shared.

Once they're in the car, her unblinking eyes are watering, tears rolling down her cheeks. When the spell releases, she takes in a deep shaking breath, and immediately turns to look behind them. They're too far out to see the school, and her mind turns to Lizzie, to MG, to Flori.. She grimaces and swallows. "Either this is an elaborate murder plan or I was right."

[fightforbetter]

❝ Josie, Josie, Josie, look at me! ❞  

Palms clasped on her jaw, Hayley forces the girl to look at her, tries to catch her gaze. Her heart is thumping  —  pattering, thundering, boom boom in her chest and in her ears and in her throat. She hadn’t seen it, hadn’t even heard the gunshot. But there’s blood, so much blood, too much blood. Oh God, what if —

It’s only with incredible restraint that she resists shaking Josie’s shoulders to get a reaction. That’d make her worse, she has to remind herself. Has to take a deep breath. This is far from the first murder she’s had to face, let alone merely attempted, but it’s  —

Hope’s face flashes before her eyes. 

No, she’d never be able to explain this to her daughter. She’d never want to witness Hope try to survive this loss. She’d never want to do it herself either. Josie’s too important to them. 

starter for @asiphon​

[nexusvcrti]

Hope doesn't know how to explain what it felt like as she was transforming into the berbalang. It's similar to how she feels during the full moon, with coherent thought a distant concept while her body remains driven forward by pure instinct. All she remembers is the insatiable hunger that had nearly killed Josie and Landon and Wade and who knows how many others. For the second time in weeks, @asiphon has had to take back her magic to save Hope's life after she did something foolhardy. "I thought you were going to die today." Hope is pretty sure that telling her not to worry, that she'll come back, is not the response that Josie wants to hear. Instead she just squeezes her hand again.

"You did. You saved me," Hope tells her. She knows she probably shouldn't ask what it took, even if she can guess that it involved Josie doing something she didn't want, namely taking back her magic. A part of her wishes she had Josie's powers, so she can tell without asking whether she still kept her magic. "I'm really lucky you were here today."

[ intertwine & hold ]  –  for the sender’s muse to intertwine their finger’s the receiver’s muse and hold them during an emotional moment to reassure them. - hope/josie

The darker part of her is gone - locked away or sundered or integrated as a part of her or something she doesn't quite understand yet. Hope's hand is in hers and it's distracting, but it's also grounding in a way she didn't expect. Mainly because all she can think of is the way her hand is a bit warmer than she expected, how there's callouses on the pads of her fingers and they're a bit scratchy as they rub over the back of her hand. But she doesn't want to look up at her - doesn't want the moment to end. And she's so damn afraid that the moment she speaks, it will be broken, that Hope will let go and walk away again.

Taking in a deep breath, she glances over to see Hope's eyes softening, wide and beautiful blue. "I thought you were going to die today." Seeing Hope like that - monstrous and suffering and angry - it was almost too much to bear. "I thought.. we wouldn't get to you in time."

[founderscouncil]

@asiphon​​ asked for [ LINGER ]: taking the receiver’s hand, the sender lifts it to their lips, and gently kisses their knuckles, lingering for a moment before withdrawing.

          She holds her breath, trembling in a way that has become all too familiar to Penelope over the last several months. Josie’s lips are warm and alive against her skin, and it’s as though something in Penelope breaks as she reaches out to grasp Josie’s wrist before she can pull away completely. “Jojo,” she breathes out, and if there are tears sparkling along her eyelashes, she truly doesn’t have it in herself to give a fuck. “Am I dead?” She has to be because what other explanation is there for her dead (ex?) girlfriend standing in front of her looking very much alive?

[sanguionus]

@asiphon​  //  sc

 Coming back was turning out to be an even bigger adjustment this time than it had been the first. Even with her past looming closely the first time, the truth of her fate and whereabouts spreading throughout the school. Even with all of that, she felt more at ease then that she did now. Like she had missed too much, let go of even more. And hearing the whispers  ( or being confronted by Lizzie about how her sister was better off without her )  Jade knew that she had. She knew, just was well, that she had no right to feel as bothered by it as she was feeling. Knew that the ugly, burning sensation at the back of her neck had nothing to do with the desperate need to dig her fangs into warm skin.

 She kicked a rock on the ground as she made her way over to where the siphoner was, hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket. Jade wasn’t sure what drove her to seek Josie out, even though the witch had been nothing but warm towards her, they weren’t nowhere near close to how it was before she left. And the name she’s been hearing made her insides turn.  “ So... a werewolf?.”  the words were out before she could try to stop herself, and she kicked herself mentally at the stupidity. She had no right to question Josie, but the need to know was burning deep on the pit of her stomach.  “ Sorry... none of my business.”  a pause... and she cleared her throat.  “ but... no, nevermind.”

[vrake]

bring back harry and josie saltzman ty

send me muses or characters you think would make a great ship for mine!

oHHHH friend, you and me both be wanting them back. Yelling at @asiphon to give them to me again, so we can give them to y'all.

[cursedbcrn]

Nineteen.

Another year goes by only this time is different, for a great many reasons. Last year, she was still lost amidst bloodshed and carnage and the day passed by with mostly just a fleeting thought and a last minute message.

In the time since, so much has changed, but at the same time, not that much. She still has Josie by her side, despite the unforgivable acts that Hope has committed and some days, that's the most that Hope dares for. She can handle having the world hate her. She can't handle Josie hating her.

She wakes earlier than the siphoner for once, and slips out of their bed to fetch fresh beignets and caffeinated beverages for them to enjoy on the balcony. The remnants of the previous night's revelers are trickling back to their hotels, while a few other early birds get a jump on their errands for the day. By the time Hope returns to the compound, she's quietly pleased that Josie is still asleep, and she sets down her prizes on the table before slipping back into their bed.

She presses feather-light kisses along Josie's face, her forehead, each eyelid and the tip of her nose, gently coaxing her back to consciousness. "Wake up, Jo," she says quietly as one hand rubs up and down her arm in a slow repetitive motion. The sunlight drifts hazily through the open curtain and in that moment, Josie looks like she's glowing and Hope is breathless as she stares at her for three long seconds before she's leaning in for a more fervent, heated kiss. Her breathing is heavy when she pulls away, blue eyes so dark they're nearly black as she hums happily against Josie's lips, suddenly giddy that this is their reality when just last year they seemed impossibly far from this. She leans in again and presses her forehead against Josie's with a shy grin.

"Happy birthday." / @asiphon

@asiphon​ / for the birthday girl

Eleven.

She remembers how that day felt, standing at the window and watching as a giant bouncy castle was inflated and caterers wheeled in an enormous cake decorated with Josie and Lizzie’s names. She had been trying so hard to be good, had been practicing her meditation, had been dutifully attending her therapy sessions with Miss Tig. She also remembers Caroline and Alaric arguing in hushed tones behind her, one insisting that she be allowed to attend the party that literally everyone else in the school had been invited to, and the other not wanting to ruin his daughters’ birthday party. 

There had only been a feeling of dread as Caroline took her hand, despite Alaric’s grumbling behind them, and Hope still remembers the hush that fell over the crowd as the three of them appeared at the edge of the party. Lizzie’s face quickly morphed into an ugly scowl, and Josie? Josie looked like Hope had simultaneously fulfilled and shattered her dreams in a single instant, and that, more than anything else, made her gut twist. 

The rest was a blur of screams and magic, shouts of disgust and the scent of burnt rubber, and Hope was being led away by Alaric, hand clamped tightly around her upper arm as he pulled the tribrid into his office to lecture her. Even if Caroline had stepped in after a solid ten minutes, and Alaric had apologized by getting her ice cream and letting her roam around a local art exhibit, it was not enough to wipe away the feeling in her chest when she thought about Josie’s face when she saw Hope. 

Keep reading

[nexusvcrti]

She had been too reckless in her pursuit of trying to figure this particular monster - and mostly trying to do as such to make up for all the hell she'd caused just by virtue of letting the dark magic get the better of her. In doing so, she'd forgotten that she was still recovering, still weak from not having her magic - and maybe, just maybe she had something to prove to the others for doubting her. She's not bleeding, which is a blessing in itself, but her head throbs and she's certain she'll be battered and bruised the next day. Warm arms cradle her, but she doesn't have the energy to open her eyes or move or do anything but lay limply in the person's arms. "'Msorry.."

When Lizzie first burst into Hope and Cleo's room, declaring that @asiphon was missing, Hope took three breaths to steady herself before replying. Even if every instinct was jumping to the ready to track down Josie, Hope reminded herself that Josie had been avoiding her for a reason. Not that she can really blame the other witch. So much has happened in the last few months, from Landon breaking up with Josie, to Josie succumbing to her dark magic, to sealing her magic away entirely and transferring to Mystic Falls High. It's the last one that stings Hope the most.

But Lizzie insisted and the gnawing feeling in Hope's gut only grew, especially knowing that there's still a monster out there they haven't defeated yet. And now, as she carries Josie in her arms, bruised and beaten by that exact same monster, Hope hates herself for hesitating, for delaying even a single second that allowed Josie to get hurt. "Shh, you're okay," Hope murmurs as she carries Josie into the Old Mill, and sets her down on the lumpy couch that one of the wolves dragged in. Now that she can look at her, Hope begins to seethe as she sees the marks left on her, but she tries to push it down. "What were you thinking, Josie?"

[dvarapala]

Ethan and MG are with Lizzie. That’s what Udyati notices from the corner of her eye when she slips away to go find Josie. While Udyati didn’t have the... best relationship with Headmaster Saltzman, she still recognized that he’s been a pilar of support for many.

Besides, had it been her mom in there, there’s no telling what Udyati would’ve done. 

It takes her a while, but she manages to find Josie in the end. Silently, she sits down beside her friend and looks at them. “We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. We can just sit here.” Her accent sounds a little rougher, a little thicker, a little more pronounced because of the emotions this day’s evoked. “But if you do want to talk, Jo, I’m here to listen.” / @asiphon​

[cursedbcrn]

Hope nearly recoiled as Josie reached for her, but she managed not to pull away, instead only looking down at the fingers that touched her arms. It was enough to induce that same flip in her stomach that had gotten her in this situation in the first place. It was the first time that Josie had actually touched her since she had come back to Salvatore, the first time since she had triggered her curse. The hairs on her arm stand up and it feels different in some way and for a second, Hope forgets how to breathe.

Her eyes snap up at Josie's words and Hope continues to hold her breath as the siphoner reaches out for her, but hesitates at the last second. What Josie wants, Hope is desperate to give but she doesn't know how to respond. So much has happened since the last time they really talked, but they also never really talked. Hope just came back to Mystic Falls and locked herself in her room, ignoring any and all looks and attempts for conversation.

"I..." Hope's eyes cut away briefly, and she's on the verge of agreeing and letting Josie back in, but she's terrified. In less than a few months, she lost so much, and the idea of having the tiniest shred of happiness is something she doesn't feel like she's worthy of. Not yet. She needed to atone for so much more before she could be selfish again. But she looks again at Josie and the iron grip on her heart loosens and she finds a little courage for the first time in months. "Okay," she whispers, and she steps back two steps before sitting down on the ground gingerly. "Let's talk."

new post for beta editor. / @cursedbcrn

She doesn't expect the bitterness that comes from Hope's tone, and her stomach sinks nearly immediately at it. This was a mistake. This was a mistake. She'd made the wrong decision. Hope didn't want to see her - She took a deep, steadying breath to rid herself of her spiral of thoughts and stepped closer to the other, reaching her hand out to stop her as she headed back from putting the chains up. Josie's fingers grazed along Hope's forearm before she pulled them back, almost ashamed at being so.. needy.

This was the moment she could decide to be brave. With a deeper breath, "I don't want to talk about them." It's said with an air of finality. As if neither of them were worth her time, but both of them knew it wasn't exactly that. The situation as a whole was far more complicated than either of them liked to admit. The slight graze of her fingers that she'd allowed herself - it only made her crave more. Her fingers reached out once more, but came up short. She was the very picture of yearning: reaching out, but not touching, eyes soft and wanting.

"I just - I just wanted to see you. To talk about.. us. Mainly. And everything else is just noise. It's.. it's stuff I can worry about later. Tomorrow, when the sun's up." Her eyes search Hope's face, as if looking for a reason to shut up. "I mean it when I say I miss you."

[naturesloopholed]

positivity for asiphon (bc duh)

KING!  What can I say about the photoshop KING themself?  Aside from the fact that they have a skill with editing that they share with the world?  And is always willing to help me with the little stuff? Or will let me just talk it out in the dms until I figure out what I did wrong myself because I have done that a few times with PS.  It is always funny because I’m like “oopsies! I forgot to do this!”  King has a knack for being able to make you see sides of characters that I hadn’t expected to like.  Their passion for writing and Josie Saltzman is always noticed.  If I have a question on Josie?  I go slide into their dms asking about it to see what they made of the scene. King is one of those calm people that I enjoy talking with even if it is out of character things.  King has amazing taste in music  (we might share a band / genre...) ,  they are easy to talk with,  and are a sweet person!  They are a joy to talk with when we go back and forth in the dms no matter the topic. 

[founderscouncil]

@asiphon​ okay listen this just popped in my head and i ran with it for that one starter you wanted

           Technically, he had been banned from attending the Saltzman twins’ birthday party because of what he had done to Landon, and he didn’t think anyone really wanted to see much of him right now, but his leg kept shaking and his wolf paced relentlessly until finally he snuck out of his room, a messily wrapped package stuffed in his hoodie pocket as he made his way down the halls. It was easy to avoid the monitors, and even if he got caught, Jed was- his foot faltered when he realized that, no, he wasn’t the Alpha anymore, but the werewolf quickly shoved that thought away before it could start pulling at the rage again. He didn’t want to be that person. The bruises on his knuckles throbbed, both from his fight with Rafael and beating up Landon, and Jed pressed into one, hissing lightly under his breath. Steady, Tien. 

Turning down the hallway where most of the witches lived, including the Saltzmans, Jed hesitated before continuing on and stopping at the twins’ door. Suddenly, all the confidence in the world left him and he was just a boy with a crush on a girl who probably hated his guts now because he couldn’t hold onto his temper. Shoulders slumping in resignation, he pulled out the gift he had hastily wrapped earlier that day, a small plushy cactus that had a smile embroidered on its face. Jed shook his head with a self-deprecating scoff and turned to go back to his room when he practically tripped over Josie herself , not having heard her walk up. “Oh, um, yo,” he stuttered out, just barely managing to make his voice not crack in surprise. But he frowned when he saw the redness around her eyes. She’d been crying and that made his chest hurt because she shouldn’t be crying on her birthday. “Are you... okay?”

[sanguionus]

@asiphon​  sent  ❛ i’ve lost my mind . ❜

 Jade  had  heard  her  coming,  the  silent  steps  of  the  girl  forever  engraved  in  her  mind  and  the  suspicion  had  been  confirmed  when  the  brunette’s  perfume  reached  her  nostrils.  Even  then,  she  only  turned  when  the  girl  spoke,  a  frown  on  her  face.  Of  all  the  things  she  could’ve  expected  the  girl  to  say,  that  definitely  wasn’t  it.  Rising  an  eyebrow,  she  waited  for  Josie  to  elaborate  and  when  she  didn’t,  Jade  fought  the  urge  to  smile.  “ I’m  pretty  sure  we’ve  all  lost  our  minds  at  least  once  or  twice  in  our  lives...  I  know  I have.”

 Shrugging,  she  did  smile  this  time,  bumping  her  shoulder  lightly  against  Josie’s.  “ Wanna  tell  me  what  has  driven  you  to  that  conclusion  now?  What  could’ve  Josie  Saltzman  done  to  make  her  think  she’s  lost  her  mind?.”  her  words  gentle  despite  the  light  humor  they  carry.  As  if  she  was  trying  to  convey  she  got  it  if  it  was  something  serious,  but  trying  to  keep  the  air  around  them  as  light  as  it  could.

[nexusvcrti]

It's a stalemate, even if Hope doesn't want to admit it yet. @asiphon stares up at her with that defiant set to her jaw and Hope's fingers twitch with the urge to snap her neck. To be done with this all. The hesitation alone tells them both what Hope isn't ready to hear yet, and she crouches slowly so she's eye level with Josie. She stares at her, like she's trying to decipher what is going on in her mind, but finally she lifts her hand. "Corporis impetus." The words freeze Josie as is, fully conscious and aware, just unable to physically move. "So what are we going to do now, Jo?" Hope sighs like a disappointed parent, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair away that had fallen into Josie's face. She brushes her thumb against Josie's lower lip and turns her head as she hears the sounds of running feet headed in their direction. With a whisper, she's outside with the Mercedes, Josie's frozen form belted into the passenger seat, while Hope deposits the duffel bag of stolen weapons into the trunk of her aunt's car. They're on the road within minutes, and only when Salvatore has disappeared from her rearview mirror does she lift the spell from Josie, waiting silently (and a bit smugly) as Josie adjusts.

you failed. accept it. - hope/josie

She'd absorbed so much dark magic for this, and all she'd gotten for her trouble was thrown across the room. But she wasn't giving up - she'd seen the way Hope looked down at her. Her face had been blank, but there was hesitation. Hope hadn't hurt her. That was key. That meant that somewhere in there was a chance. "For now. I failed for now. I won't stop trying, Hope."