#some women fear the fire; others become it | | keelin malraux

[fragmcntedsouls]

@exitiumstarters ✦ keelin malraux

"Don't touch that, thank you" Keelin scolded as she removed a particularly expensive heirloom from the wandering hands of a guest and pointed down the hall, "the ballroom is that way. This part of the compound is off limits." Klaus had willingly let the vultures into their home; a home that she had once shared with her wife and their children. No life remained within the walls now, instead it was just bricks and mortar. 'Are you kidding me' was hissed beneath her breath as the sound of footsteps approached, to which Keelin raised her voice, "I thought I told you, this room's out of bounds."

[fragmcntedsouls]

"You know all the right things to say, huh?" Keelin teased, laughter following shortly after as she hopped up from her seat and headed towards the freezer, "which is something we should absolutely plan by the way, just you and me." She then proceeded to grab a tub of ice cream and two spoons from the drawer before returning to Lia and holding out one of the spoons "we're definitely borrowing her personal shopper though."

lia couldn't help but echo the laughter that fell from her mother's lips. ❝ for what it's worth, momma -- i would take a shopping trip with you over a shopping trip with auntie bex any day. ❞

[fragmcntedsouls]

@exitiumstarters ✦ keelin malraux

Keelin was pretty sure she'd developed some kind of repetitive strain injury from extracting slugs from the carnival and after a gruelling shift at the hospital where that continued, she wasn't in the mood to discuss anything medical. "It's the weekend and this is a bar" she quipped, fixing herself a drink behind the counter at Rousseau's "so please do not ask me to look at your strange rash or the weird things on your feet, because I am off duty. If you can do that for me, the first rounds on the house."

[fragmcntedsouls]

keelin malraux ✦ briggs mikaelson // @ofmoonlitmagic

Keelin had seen some pretty nasty, also bizarre things roll into the ER, but a mass slugging was probably one of the wildest yet. She'd done her fair share of slug removal with Freya over the course of the evening, which honestly hadn't been what she had in mind for their impromptu date night. More fool her for expecting otherwise.

Sat at the kitchen table, holding onto a slug in a jar, her eyes immediately met the second party entering the room as she quickly came to her own defence, "before you ask – your brother brought it home. I had to wait until he was asleep to pry it out of hands. Little as he might be, his grip is freakishly strong."

[fragmcntedsouls]

𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐀𝐔𝐗 – 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧

Yet again, the family find themselves divided by Klaus' bullheadedness and Keelin believes that his impulsive nature is putting them all at risk.

In the last year, she has grown to resent Klaus for his decision to form an alliance with the OEA, masterplan or not. To her, this comes at the expense of their family, of her children. Forgiveness won't be something that's simply handed over.

Whilst she understood her son's decision to leave the city, it didn't make accepting the fact any easier. The only solace in the idea being that he was doing was right for himself and for his wife and in her heart, she had to trust that he would always come home.

Despite the persistent offers for her to join the ranks of the OEA as medical faculty, she refuses. A decision that she won't waver from.

[fragmcntedsouls]

“Well, I guess somebody has to” Keelin teased, winking at Briggs as she took a little pride in her joke. Doing her very best to ensure things remained light-hearted for as long as possible before she offered him up the ring. “I’m surprised he’s not out here already giving you a classic Mikaelson pep talk, though. I guess you have that to look forward to.”

The scrunch of his nose coaxed amusement from the she wolf, making herself comfortable next to him. “Speaking of, have you spoken to Riley yet?” she asked before holding her hands up in submission “sorry, i’m prying aren’t I? You can tell me to butt out. I won’t take back my gift” she added playfully. “Play your cards right and I might just share my secret recipe.”

Keelin prodded her index finger into his ribs as he kept his list going, her laughter effortless as she shook her head “that last bit can stay though” she teased, before her laughter subsided into a soft sigh; noting the shift in his own expression. His no caused for her heart to contort, features now reflecting her emotional turmoil. She had anticipated it, but it wouldn’t prevent it from destroying her any less. “I’ve got years of experience, you don't have to worry about me” her words came insistently, despite his continued protest; jaw tightening as he spoke of not surviving her taking his place.

Turning to face him, she took his cheeks into her palms, “it’s our curse to bear. It’s part of who we are. You aren't alone with this, baby boy,” Lowering her voice, her gaze captured her sons “I felt deserving of it too. Scared as hell, but deserving. The first transformation is –” inhaling a sharp breath, she had to keep to her word, no sugar-coating “it's the hardest and it’s okay to be scared of it, I was terrified. "Tilting her head as though to gauge his reaction, she continued "but know that you don’t look at me and think that I deserve this, so why do you think that you do?” Keelin ran her thumb against his cheek before dropping her palms from his features, “i’m your mom, I’ll save you from everything that I can – this included. It just comes with the territory.�� Emotion rose in the back of her throat at the mention of his father, swallowing harshly as she drew in a sharp breath “accepting this won’t mean you’re being beaten, but I’ll respect whatever decision you make and i’ll be there, every step of the way for it.”

"Even more so now," he remarked, giving her a slight nudge back. "I think he's funny." The jokes, despite the strength it took to make them, helped stay above what was to come. If he thought too long about it, his heart would pound and his lungs would tighten. He wanted to stay above it, cling to denial like a life ring.

He shrugged, a scrunch of his nose revealing what he thought of it. "In my defense, I wasn't given the choice," he remarked. Not that he didn't understand Riley's need to leave or begrudge it, but that didn't mean there wasn't an ache for not having her when he was needing her most. "Yeah, we'll be back in the lab after this is all over," he added instead, fighting with every bit of strength left to keep things light for his mother. To not crumble under the weight of the fear. Stumbling out of that gala, he didn't expect to recover, but seeing Billie, he knew he had people to fight for and to lose it was the most selfish thing he could do. The people he loved most in the world were hurting as deeply as he was, and they needed him.

"I can keep going," he teased, "convinced me to give it all up, going to be a good kid now. Turning a corner..." Even he had to laugh at that, it definitely was far from believable. As his mother continued, the smile was erased completely.

He shook his head, not wanting to bring anyone into this, but he knew he wouldn't talk her out of it. He would have to bring somebody. The offer drained all the color from his face, and he swallowed hard. Part of him, the scared--no, terrified--part of him wanted to take it. He knew what it was, he knew what it could do. But there was never a question, no matter what he wanted. He lost the chance to avoid this the second he made the decision to kill. "No," he choked out, the weight of everything coming in one solid wave. It didn't hit in sections, it hit all at once. "If it has to be you instead of me, that I won't survive." His eyes welled up and he blinked hard to stop it, still shaking his head. "I won't take it. I won't. I have to pay for this, for what I've done. It's the consequences, it's the balance. It's my curse to bear, not yours. You've saved me from enough already. I have everything I do because of you. Everything good, aside from Billie, started with you and Mom. This is mine, this has to be mine. The last pain my father is ever gonna cause me. This can't be allowed to beat me, so I can't cheat it."

[fragmcntedsouls]

keelin malraux ✦ briggs mikaelson // (@ofmoonlitmagic)

Upon receiving a call from the emergency room that she had a visitor, Keelin soon finished up her rounds before sprinting to the department, knowing exactly who it was going to be. The grin that she wore was unmatched, only growing wider upon those suspicions being confirmed. Bonus points for the food in his hand. “I don’t know who i’m more glad to see, you or the takeout.”

Whilst she was kidding – mostly, she was thrilled to see her son back from his trip. Taking the bag from his grasp, she set it down onto the counter before taking both of his cheeks into her hands and placing a mom like kiss against his forehead, "let me look at you" she hummed, pulling backwards and inhaling a deep breath before wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a tight embrace. “Oh my baby boy, I wanna hear everything.” 

[fragmcntedsouls]

keelin malraux ✦ kaya ( @l-kaya )

"Alright don't hate me" Keelin murmured as she appeared in the office doorway. A coffee and a brown paper bag in one hand and a tonne of files secured under her free arm. "I brought a peace offering and there is -- donuts, somewhere here." She was absolutely stalling before creeping closer; holding out the coffee and pastry bag for Kaya to take as she dropped the files onto the desk with a thud. "Just a couple referrals. I know, I know -- I owe you big time, but you're the best at what you do and I don't trust anybody else with this."

[fragmcntedsouls]

@exitiumstarters ✦ keelin malraux ✦ exitium.event002

Keelin was confident that there wasn't a single person here who was buying into the bullshit that this forced attendance gala was part of a truce. Already she had encountered turbulence after an OEA car had collected her from the hospital, the hunter treating her no different to usual as he practically marched her into the venue.

Snatching her arm away from their guiding grasp she hissed "I've got it from here, thanks" as she crossed the threshold into the headquarters. Unimpressed. Taking in her elaborate surroundings, the she wolf shrugged her jacket from her frame as she mused "this already exceeds my expectations; but I guess there's still time for the pitch fork wielding angry mob to show."

[fragmcntedsouls]

“That's what you did before getting into politics?” Keelin quipped, having almost spit out her own drink at the revelation. Holding out a hand to assist him in getting down from the stage, she mused "c'mon, Mayor. How about I get you a drink and we'll get you enough to forget this .... happened."

Randy's ears perked hearing the other mention the paycheck. Randy felt he deserved the boos. He couldn't bear not losing everything though. So the remaining common sense, Randy decided to come along. Randy walked away and sighed. As he sat far from the people and looked at Keelin. "I should have stuck to styling hair." Randy admitted. "Why did I serve my madatory enlistement and get into polictics?"

[fragmcntedsouls]

you believe me, don't you? (for Keelin)

keelin malraux ✦ memes // flashback

Month after painstaking month, admission after admission it was always the same fabrication of a twisted truth. ‘Fuckin’ kids clumsy as hell, he tripped.’ Bullshit. ‘Little bastards gettin’ in fights at school.’ Another bruise, another broken bone, another lie – one after the next.

The air was suffocating in it, Briggs’ father pacing back and forth in the corner of the room, exchanging warning glances with his son, but Keelin wasn’t about to be intimidated by this bastard. Interrupting his pace, she stood her ground between Briggs and Gideon, her eyes warning him as she spoke calm, yet firmly “there’s a cafeteria down the hall, you can wait there. This'll take a while.” 

--

Placing his chart down on the bed beside him, she adjusted the sling that was supporting another fresh break. This wasn't the last time they would find themselves here and nothing terrified her more. What use was she if she couldn't put an end to this insidious cycle? Her eyes were pleading with the teen and her features had softened – a far cry from the expression she’d previously used against his father. "I want you to tell me again what happened."

‘You believe me, don't you?’

A saddened sigh filtered from her lungs as she removed her gloves, tossing them into the waste before taking a seat beside him. “I need you to help me, help you -- and that begins with you being honest with me.” She was all but begging him now, "let me do that."

@ofmoonlitmagic

[fragmcntedsouls]

you look lovely in that dress, by the way. (sylvia and keelin because sylvia is the number one hype girl)

keelin malraux ✦ memes

"Listen, before I put this thing on I almost forgot that I had an ass" Keelin quipped, taking another swig from her champagne. "As much as I said that I wasn't looking forward to this soiree" lifting the bottle of champagne, she gave it a little wiggle "this is definitely helping."

@ofwindydays

[fragmcntedsouls]

❛ what are you thinking about? ❜ (tomas to Keelin)

keelin malraux ✦ memes

"Hm?" Keelin hummed, Tomas' question steadily urging her from her wandering thoughts as a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I'm thinking about the copious amounts of beer and wings we're about to consume because our shift is up and we are getting outta here." The she wolf was practically ready to toss the chart in her hands as she turned from the other, quipping over her shoulder "i'll meet you out the front in 5 -- don't be late, or else i'm drinking your share."

@dmpled

[fragmcntedsouls]

Since the big kids had flown the nest, shortly followed by her and Freya taking a leave of absence from it, Keelin had found herself with an abundance of time on her hands and she wasn’t somebody who coped all that well when she wasn’t busy. So, with Klaus playing dictator with the OEA, whilst she and Freya hatched up a plan on how the hell to stop him, the rest of her time was spent thrown into work and I mean thrown into it. The hours that she was pulling at the hospital were definitely not legal, but she had to do something – help whoever she could, wherever she could.

She understood the feeling of the world shifting beneath you, to feel as if you were falling indefinitely with no lifeline, nor support to reach out for. Keelin understood that feeling better than most, better than she wished she did.

Giving Rory's arm a light squeeze, she glanced towards her with a soft smile, “I understand. You just take your time, alright? Besides, I know all the best hideouts and all the places where the off limits liquor is hidden if you need a minute.” There was a nod and Keelin’s features softened, hoping to relieve some of Rory's anxiety. “I wouldn’t let my kids be here if I thought for a second their home wasn’t safe.” As at odds as she was with Klaus at the moment, Keelin had to trust that he wouldn’t let any harm come to their family either. “They can’t touch us. I swear. I might have slipped the wait staff some extra money for the incentive to spit int he drinks of the OEA too.” Whilst she appreciate Rory's gratitude, none was needed, "you don't need to thank me. It's what friends are for, right?"

Three months had almost felt like a lifetime since the cops had arrived at her doorstep to tell her that her husband had been in an accident at work, since he had been put under that medical coma to help him to heal, to fight the wolfsbane that had infiltrated his blood stream, since she had been left to try and manage this life and their daughter on her own. If she was grateful for anyone it was Keelin. She had been so attentive to Brooks and to her and her daughter, had done her best to ease Lorelai's worries and help her through this whole ordeal.

Then he had woken up and had no recollection, stared at her as if she were a stranger and to him she was. It had been Keelin that had found her when she had excused herself from his hospital room, heart shattering once more just as it had many times in the last year since she had come back from death and now here she was once again saving her from an inevitable break down, a shaky breath escaping her lips as her gaze quickly found the Mikaelson beside her as her arm slipped through her own and she gave her a grateful smile. "I guess with everything that's happened since I came back," Lorelai muses. "I've never really gotten past the anxiety of big crowded events like this but you said your wife put a protection spell on the compound, right? They can't- they can't do anything to hurt any of us?" Her first initial thought returning to the gala and her little sister's death that had triggered her transition into a hybrid. While her heart still raced within her chest, Keelin removing her mask and speaking calmed it ever so slightly and her own digits rose to remove her own. "Thank you, Keelin," the blonde states, deep breath inhaled and released. "For everything you've done for me these last few months, for everything you still are doing to help."

[fragmcntedsouls]

❛ do you remember when we first met? ❜ ( for Keelin )

keelin malraux ✦ memes

"Do I remember?" Keelin repeated with a grin, "my sweet, sweet pickpocket, how could I forget?" In passing, the she wolf draped her arms around his shoulders from behind, leaning around to place a kiss against his cheek. She made sure to exaggerate the 'mwah' sound, before releasing him from her grasp as she manoeuvred through the kitchen. "You know, I really wanted to put that talent to good use, but your mom wouldn't let me." She was teasing, of course but as his mother, she simply couldn't resist. Grabbing two beers from the refrigerator now, she returned to sit beside him, sliding over a bottle as her tone became entirely sincere. "I remember it like it was yesterday. I knew from the moment that I saw you that you belonged right here, with me and your mom."

Their first encounter had told Keelin enough about his circumstances – but it was the second, the third, the fourth – month after month of the same young face in the ER, those had been the real sucker punches. Her heart contorted in her chest, her breath momentarily hindering as she tapped her finger against the side of her bottle within reflective thought before angling her frame to face his. "My brave, beautiful boy" she humed softly, a hand reaching to ease her finger beneath his chin as she tilted it upwards “I remember everything.”

@ofmoonlitmagic

[fragmcntedsouls]

' how is it you're never scared? ' (Elijah & Keelin)

keelin malraux ✦ memes

“Doesn’t being afraid go against the Mikaelson code?” Keelin teased, looping her arm through Elijah’s as she encouraged for him to walk beside her. “Fear doesn't stop death" she breathed upon a soft exhale, "it stops life. -- and I am not done living."

@traegics