#HEHE we’re going to go on vacation soon so obviously I did the most reasonable thing and drew the arclights also going on vacation

[onegroovyrose]

Another Chris day another Chris slay!!

[misssophiachase]

Learning to Fly

Thanks for the lovely reviews last chapter, everyone! 37 days until Christmas (not counting at all)! If you haven't started shopping yet I suggest you do hehe. I hope you enjoy this part. Points of view will alternate as usual.

Synopsis: It's only three days until Christmas and flight attendant Caroline Forbes thought her day was going to be all candy canes, Santa Claus and carols until she meets an unusual passenger on a flight and soon realises there's more to him and the situation than she first thought. Chapter one HERE

"I'm learning to fly but I ain't got wings, coming down is the hardest thing…"

Chapter 2: So this is Christmas

Mollie Fontaine Lounge, Memphis TN – 22nd December

"Do you have some remote tracking device on me or something?" Klaus demanded, slamming his whiskey glass on the bar in frustration. He'd finally managed to break free from their over-protective clutches to enjoy some alone time and wasn't impressed to see them appear unexpectedly and ruin his evening.

"Believe me Rebekah tried but apparently it's like against the law or something," Kol drawled, signalling to the bartender for a drink.

"Not funny, idiot," she snapped, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder and managing to whip his face in the process.

"Hey! Watch where you're throwing those coarse split ends."

"How dare you," Rebekah growled. If there was anything Rebekah prided herself on it was personal grooming. Klaus knew exactly where this was headed and figured the nearby patrons would much prefer jazz than a needless cat fight between his brother and sister.

"For the last time, I'm not some three-year-old that needs to be babysat twenty-four bloody seven," Klaus hissed. "The least you could do is leave me in peace, I think it's the least I deserve."

After landing in Memphis, Klaus had checked into his suite at the Westin then left immediately, headed towards Beale Street for some much needed live music. He'd loved jazz ever since he could walk and talk thanks to his grandfather and if he was going to be held hostage in the city by his family he might as well take advantage. Another reason had brought him there and it was to reminisce over the gorgeous, blonde flight attendant he'd come across on his flight into town. She had calmed his nerves unlike anyone else and Klaus hadn't stopped smiling since. He just wished that he'd been his usual smooth self instead of his emotionally inept flying alter ego. Klaus prided himself on his way with women and he'd failed miserably when it had come to her unfortunately.

There was no denying he was a nervous, if not completely neurotic, flyer. He'd been that way since his first family vacation to San Francisco at age eight. Given flying time was less than an hour and his dramatic reaction, his parents had been somewhat concerned. All vacations were kept closer to home after that trip, Mikael hated when his children made a scene and embarrassed him.

Every time he flew since then his mind was cluttered with 'what if' scenarios and he would find himself standing up then pacing back and forth down the aisle even during the seatbelt induced parts. It was like his body and mind were disjointed and Klaus couldn't control his actions. Given he was usually so confident in life it had thrown him and he'd vowed never to fly again until his unexpected inheritance had changed that particular promise.

"How did you find me anyway?"

"You are too predictable," Kol offered. "Come on Nik, live jazz? Do you think we're that stupid?"

"Obviously my expectations were stupidly low." What he hadn't expected were his nosy siblings tracking him down like he was some missing child who was the subject of an amber alert. He had to deal with them most of the time and craved some time away from the Mikaelson madness. Was that too much to ask?

"Nik, did you ever think maybe that we want to just hang out together?" Rebekah implored, lower lip extended for extra effect.

"You've been pulling that pathetic puppy dog look since we were kids, what on earth makes you think I would ever fall for it?"

"We're just trying to help, no need to throw it back in our faces." Klaus felt slightly bad knowing what they were trying to do but resented the fact he should need any assistance at all.

Growing up, he'd been the most outgoing, charismatic, intelligent and popular out of the siblings and bedded a new conquest pretty much every week. In fact, Klaus considered himself practically invincible until life had thrown him a curveball he'd never seen coming. He could still remember the unexpected news like it was yesterday.

It was Spring Break of junior year in College. Klaus had finished top of his graduating high school class in Los Angeles and had every Ivy League School interested but had chosen Yale. Although he wouldn't admit it aloud, Klaus wanted to put as many miles between him and his father Mikael as possible.

He'd returned home to visit his mother in Los Angeles. His siblings were spread far and wide at the time. Elijah was studying at Harvard, Kol a freshman at Princeton and Rebekah completing her final year of boarding school in Chicago. Klaus had been extremely excited for the quiet solace of an almost empty house given his raucous and tiring adventures at college. What he hadn't expected was to find his mother in such a vulnerable position on arrival.

"Your father died yesterday," his mother Esther sobbed. Klaus was immediately confused upon finding her crumpled in a heap in the family home. No one else was there, including his father who was in Phoenix for work. As much as he detested Mikael, Klaus knew that tyrant was still very much alive.

"Mum, he's fine, unfortunately."

"No, he's gone."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he muttered in frustration, spying the empty spirit bottle and half full glass. "Did you take your back pain meds after one too many vodka martinis again?"

"I lied," she admitted sadly, her blue eyes brimming with unshed tears. Klaus was dumbstruck at first, unsure of what to say. It was obvious she'd been drinking but something in her tone was telling him she was deathly serious. "I'm so sorry, Niklaus."

"I think I should put you to bed," he said, attempting to move her towards the bedroom.

"No," she growled in defiance, pulling free from his grasp.

"Okay, if you don't want to go to bed, what exactly did you lie about then?"

"I was lonely and Mikael was…" Klaus swallowed knowing just what an ogre his father was. "And Ansel he cared about me..."

"Who is Ansel?"

"Ansel was your father." The life he once knew seemed to be unravelling in a split second. "And now he's gone," she murmured, taking a long sip from the glass.

"I don't understand, that can't be…"

"We had an affair before you were born." Klaus sat down running his hands through his dark blonde curls, unable to process what she was telling him. Was his whole life a lie? She moved towards him placing a hand on his shoulder, Klaus immediately shaking it off. The last thing he wanted right now was her of all people comforting him.

"Did Mikael know?" He managed to bite out, unable to look her in the eye. Given her betrayal all Klaus needed was the facts and not to see her cry.

"Yes," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I guess that explains why he hated me so much," he growled. Klaus always assumed he'd done something wrong given the way Mikael would belittle him unlike the rest of his siblings.

"Niklaus…"

"I've heard enough," he barked, standing to face her.

"But I want to explain…"

"How can I believe anything you say to me anymore?" He brushed past her before she could give him some feeble excuse and made his way to the door. Klaus never wanted to step foot in that house again, it was tainted for him now after all the lies he'd been fed there over the years.

Klaus shook his head, attempting to dislodge the memories before his siblings thought he'd completely lost the plot.

"Fine," he conceded, knowing that he'd been moody but given his current challenge it was hardly unexpected. "A round of drinks for my brother and sister. Speaking of brothers, where is Elijah? Don't tell me it's past his bedtime already?"

"You know him too well."

"He saw a girl half dressed and now he's down for the count, he really needs to get laid," Kol chuckled, earning a whack from Rebekah along with a steely gaze.

"What's going on, Rebekah?"

"Nothing, it's just something I don't want to be visualising right now and I don't think he wouldn't appreciate us talking about his…"

"Shortcomings?" Kol finished, his brown eyes lighting up mischievously. Klaus joined in, he'd already had his fair share of whiskey and after his day he needed some form of release.

"Well, now my attention is piqued, how and why did Elijah see a naked woman? The only possibility would be a strip club and we all know how he feels about them ad nauseam."

"He, uh, accidentally switched onto an X rated film in the hotel," Kol explained. "In true Elijah fashion, he's now concerned he'll be charged for the privilege."

"If that's the case, I insist on escorting him to check-out in the morning," Klaus chuckled. Sometimes life seemed so rough but it was these times he found some pure happiness with his siblings, even if it was at their own expense.

"Well, in that case we need to be out at six," Rebekah instructed. She always was the schedule planner in the family. "Our Delta flight to Denver leaves at eight."

"Delta?" Klaus asked, his enthusiasm coming across more than he'd hoped. If she was on his flight again, Klaus was suddenly buoyed by that fact, knowing everything might just be okay.

"Yes, Delta," Rebekah confirmed. "Sounds like you're finally a little excited about flying, Niklaus?" Klaus didn't respond, knowing that it was a predictable trap his sister liked to try and pull him into. Plus, he didn't know if he'd see her ever again, even if every fibre in his body was screaming for a reunion. Given it was almost Christmas, Klaus hoped his festive wish would come true.

On FF HERE What’s going to happen next? Would love to hear your thoughts : ) 

[virginia-werewoolf]

hello!!!! so here is a life update for the first time in like a month

it is mid summer break rn and all of my vacations are out of the way finally. i say ‘finally’ because so far summer has felt a little less relaxed than id like it to be - my vacations were lovely but i am very much looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, showering in my own shower, and just seeing my best friends that are leaving oh so soon either up north or to the tippy tip of florida!!

seattle was every bit as enchanting as i dreamt it’d be and i fell under its spell the second i got out of that train - even at 2am after a 35 hour train ride and what i could only describe as a hell of a trip to the station. i always feel homesick on vacation but lemme tell you i couldve stay in that city forever. 

this most recent trip to california was not as dreamy but quite sweet in its own way. it was a typical family trip - the kind i’ve been taking for years. our cousin bailed on taking us to six flags but we did get to explore downtown los angeles a lot - we went to the last bookstore, little damage (cute but so OBVIOUSLY GENTRIFICATION??? do not recommend going more than once. felt very guilty. bought from like 12 little food carts to make my conscious a little clearer and also just because they’re my favorite part of LA), and the broad where we got to see the infinity mirrored room!! we also went to the most adorable italian restaurant the day we spent at newport that i just fell in love with. our trip was a day shorter than expected so no luck with the broken relationship musuem - but my fingers are crossed for a trip to california with my reno-bound friends so hopefully we’ll catch it or the neon musuem in glendale then. but i am also just excited to see them more this summer now that i’m home for the summer for good. i’ve missed them - especially during this last trip to cali - and am so pumped to see them even if it’s just our regular trips to coffee or cute lil restaurants!! 

bailey leaves first though so i’m throwin her a lil goin away party on the 31st. we’re goin to be pen pals when she’s in cali and i’m SO excited bc how frickin cute is that!!! just a lil something sweet to always be lookin forward to. plus it gives me a reason to buy cute stationery hehe who knew college would transform me into a studyblr girl????

i’ll need to get/make vincent and ni-ni cute going away gifts for their apt/dorms up there too but they’re not leavin til a bit later so i’ve got time. but i have MONEY NOW WHICH IS SO COOL. for so long my life has just been a cycle of having to pay my family back for everything thats been goin on lately. and now im free!!! and have the time to cook and read my books and everything i’ve been dreaming of for so long

on a bit of a negative note though i have been feeling so incredibly angry lately. ppl have rly treated me so badly lately and i’m so sick of it and i’m so sick of a lot of what i see online on snap and twitter and instagram that i just deleted instagram altogether and deleted basically everyone except my bffs off snap and am really contemplating deleting twitter soon too - its just hard bc like hello?? memes?? but i feel like so much of my self esteem has come from how my feed is lookin at that point in time and like how wild is that??? that is not the kind of life i want to live!!! also: my family doesnt ever want to take me out to drive ever. very annoying. i just want to learn already. ive had my permit for 7 months. but maybe now that things have simmered down things will get better. we’ll have to see. 

but altogether i’m not really complaining. lifes alright right now. im enrolled in all my classes for fall semester. im sorta on the hunt for a new job but not too stressed about it. ill have to fill out some scholarship paperwork in the next few weeks but its not so bad considering. lifes alright.