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

[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]

“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]

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]

❛ 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]

“The longer you stick around, the more likely you are to find out.” Keelin wasn’t going to give Delainey the satisfaction of watching her falter, no matter how difficult that fight might seem – she had to keep her composure. A smirk did tug at her lips however, knowing just how desperately Delainey must be to look at her surroundings. “Don’t believe me?” she taunted, her voice lowering as she leaned closer, “why don’t you go see for yourself?” Delainey’s retort had been anticipated – women like her didn’t have companions, at least not any of worth. “Including you” she added, “something you’d benefit from remembering.” Her digits only tightened against the handle of the knife, ensuring that the weapon remained in play. “You’ve killed far more innocent people than anybody in this room. You seem to forget that all the way up there on that high horse of yours. But you – oh, sweetheart you have no idea what a reckoning feels like; but you will. You can count on that.” Another reminder was needed for Keelin to remain composed, but the mention of her son and Billie was an immediate trigger and in an instant, the she wolf had plucked the knife from the counter and was now holding it against Delainey’s throat. She knew what was coming, from her attack would be the retaliation from Laine – but shit, the pain would be worth it. Pushing the blade against the hunter's throat, she threatened to draw blood. “Another word and i’ll cut out your tongue myself. Threaten my family, my daughter and I’ll make sure that you suffer. You have no idea who you’re playing with right now, but this is a game that you and your wolfsbane can’t win. The only demon in this city is standing right in front of me.” Shaking her head at Laine’s feigned defiance, humourless laughter carried between them, “you’ll only be even when you’re dead.”

"Are you sure you're a Mikaelson?" She taunted, "never seen one of them fight fair." Laine could see the temper boiling in the wolf before her, and she knew what buttons she was pressing. Her eyes trained on the other, she knew not to let her guard down. Lowering her voice as if confiding a secret, she replied, "everyone's expendable. That's what makes us, us. Humanity has risen against you, Dr. Malraux, and if you've ever seen a nature documentary, when the prey have numbers, a predator can be stopped. Kill one, we have another. You're angry? So are we. Your lot has been killing us for millennia, and did you really think there wouldn't be a day of reckoning?" She didn't expect to find reason here, too much emotion tied to the girl, but she could say she tried to do this the nice way. "You know what a banshee is, don't you? It's a demon. Not entirely surprising it found its way to your family, but it's funny, isn't it? She comes back, and not long after, your son kills for the first time. I wonder if that's coincidence." Her smug grin faltered at the wolf's dig, her jaw tensing. "She's had her revenge," she remarked through gritted teeth, "now we're even." Except they weren't. They wouldn't ever been even.

[fragmcntedsouls]

She could sense his resistance to meet her gaze, but she was persistent, eager to show him that she wasn’t angry, or disappointed in him. How could she be after everything that he had suffered through? No good came from anger, especially not with one's own family – she understood that better than most, courtesy of the Mikaelson siblings. Keelin refused to raise her voice towards her children, not sure she was even capable of it. “You could have come to me, Briggs. You should have come to me.” That was perhaps as stern as it would get.

The she wolf shook her head, resisting the urge to counter his statement. "They can’t be trusted” her jaw tightened, before she forced herself to release the tension with a steady exhale. Her palms remained firm against his cheeks as she encouraged him to look at her; she trusted her son, trusted his judgement and hoped that he could still see that within her. “Because whether it was five, or ten –” shaking her head she continued “they would use any excuse to slaughter. Whether you played a part in this or not, they outcome would have always been the same, Briggs. That's who they are." Her brow furrowed within thought, voice lowering as she questioned "the hunter, do they know it was him?"

He was afraid to look at her face, despite knowing how much she had always loved him. After all he'd done, how could she not be disappointed? First, for trying to be like his Uncle Klaus, and second, for failing to even do it well. If she regretted bringing him into her life, he knew she'd never say it, but he wouldn't blame her.

She didn't let him go, and he truly didn't want her to. He felt like he'd collapse again if she did. "I can't--" He murmured, "I can't say, not here. But he's with us, I trust him. He wasn't part of this." As she took his face in her hands, assured him it wasn't his fault, he shook his head fiercely. "How?" He argued, "how is this not my fault? There were five. That's the same number we killed. This was retaliation for what we did. How could it not be my fault?"

[fragmcntedsouls]

There was a moment where Keelin was certain that she would not be letting go of her son. Her arms tightened around him, enclosing him within the possession of a mothers embrace, welcoming her baby boy home, but she knew just how hard it was for him to be back. For that she would never forgive the Mikaelson name. 

Although unwilling, she did eventually lean back, keeping her arms around him as she leaned back enough to look at him. Her eyes carefully studied each feature, before her hands lifted to cup his cheeks; thumbs running across cheekbones. “Oh, sweetheart – sorry for what?” A crease formed against her brow and a soft sigh urged from her lips, concerned for the unwarranted guilt that she could sense upon him now. “I missed you and I’m okay you never have to worry about me.” Her assurance came softly, a nod accompanying the words, but her head ached for him, eager to settle his concerns. “Baby boy, it’s alright” she promised, “i’m happy that you’re home, I'll always be so grateful for that, but you have to do what is right for you and for your wife. You are what is most important."

The guilt for leaving his mother would linger--not that he left her; but as she embraced him, he held on tight. He wasn't ungrateful for all she had done, and he knew, in his heart, she did know that. The city itself became unbearable, but seeing his momma like this, he couldn't bear that either.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, trying to fit hours, days, months into a few sentences, "I missed you. Are you okay?" They couldn't stay, things would have been worse if they had, but going hadn't seemed like the right thing either. Was there a right answer? "I'm here now, I'm gonna stay, where do you need me? I'll do whatever."

[fragmcntedsouls]

“Damn right we do” Keelin promised, her hand lifting to rest against Freya’s cheek as her thumb ran across her cheekbone. Despite the conviction within her wife’s tone, Keelin wasn’t convinced. She saw how much of a toll this had taken on Freya; how much it continued to take. Freya was the Mikaelson’s pillar of strength and so Keelin would always be Freya’s. 

Her gaze softened, easing just a little bit closer so that Freya could have a few stolen moments to forget their surroundings. With her free hand running her finger against her wife's wrist, she whispered “you look beautiful” and a smile tugged at her lips at the thought, “oh we’re definitely gonna be dealing with a few sore heads in the morning.”

"We always do," Freya agreed, although the lines around her eyes looked darker. She was fatigued, badly so, after all that had been happening and the feeling that there was constantly one more thing on the horizon wasn't helping that feeling at all.

"I'm fine," she promised. "I think the kids are more annoyed with a perfectly good evening being wasted than anything else at this point. Just keep an eye on the ones who are capable of getting drunk, because I'm sure there's going to be some of them getting sick later."

[fragmcntedsouls]

A soft smile tugged at the corners of Keelin’s lips, the kindness radiating from Kaya being another reason why she trusted her with sensitive matters. “I won’t tell a soul” she teased, sitting herself down into the chair and taking her own coffee from the desk. “Uh huh” she nodded, “he’s very passionate about those too.” Watching as Kaya read the file, the she wolf sighed softly “guess I just took a liking to him. He seems like a good kid, who’s been dealt a really crappy hand. I just wanted to do whatever I could to help.”

𓂃𓊝𓄹𓄺

Chuckling with a shake of her head, Kaya reached out and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. "You definitely can't let the others hear that. They work very hard too. I just don't want them to feel bad." Moving to give the female more space, she turned her attention to the mentioned file with arched brows. "Aliens and... moth man?" She echoed, fingers already opening the chart with a confused smile. Reading the details on the young male, Kaya's eyes softened and she let out a small gasp before looking up. "Poor thing, is he a friend of yours?"

[fragmcntedsouls]

“You think?” Keelin teased with a raise of her brow, nudging his frame with her own as a motion for him to scoot over. She understood the guilt. Whether it was one – or more lives taken, it wasn’t something that anybody could forget, even without the curse of the full moon. As his mother, no matter how tempting it may be to try and reassure him, there would be no sugar-coating the process to come. 

“And how did that work out for you?” the she-wolf quipped before grimacing and waving a hand through the air, as if the scent of the concoction offended her. “Because that smells to me like Riley's input is crucial” she added playfully. It was a relief to see him smiling, even if she feared that it was an expression masking his pain. After the night of the gala, she had mourned the idea of not seeing that smile again for some time.

As he rescinded the information given, her smile returned with vigour, satisfied with his compliance before her eyes rolled playfully at his oversell “alright, alright – this is supposed to be believable.” Sitting beside him now, she couldn’t help but grin at him and whilst she realised that it was a slightly unethical parenting method, he could use the win.

“Nuh uh” she reminded as he began to ask his questions, her smile remaining in place as she handed over her gift “you can ask” she mused, sitting herself back with a fleeting sigh, “but that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Her smile began to fade, brow creasing through concern for his decision “I don’t want you doing this on your own. Nobody should have to – and you don’t.” Inhaling a sharp breath, she angled her frame to face his, anticipating the resistance to come “that and I have an out to offer you.” Raising her hand, she pointed towards the onyx ring on her finger, knowing that he would understand what she was getting at. "They're going to worry and no amount of distraction is going to prevent that, baby. Let me help you -- let me do this. Besides you'd be doing me a favor" sitting herself up a little straighter she gave her shoulders a little wriggle "because I look great in a fur coat."

"When you say it like that, makes me think my plan to have him pick up the slack was a bad idea," he countered, the breath of smoke-filled air he exhaled shook in spite of his battle over his cadence. He wouldn't fool her because she was both his mother and a wolf who could hear the way his heart beat as though its rhythm was now permanently reprogrammed.

As much as he did know he could talk to her and she could help, there was an innate belief his fear was weakness, one he couldn't show. This was something he couldn't stop feeling like he had to do alone, face the consequences of his actions. As though this panic meant he was a disappointment to their species.

Eyeing what she was removing from her pocket, he remarked, "Riley did leave me unsupervised for the past week. Improvements may have been attempted in her absence." His best friend would be pleased to not have her name associated with this disaster. Reaching for it, there was a small grin as she pulled it away before he nodded to her conditions. "Tell her about what?" He joked, "you've done nothing but keep me in line, on the straight and narrow and blah blah blah." Happy to rid himself of the failed experiment, he took a seat, momentarily distracted from his thoughts by this mildly unexpected turn of events. Wiggling his fingers to invite his mother to hand it over now, he started to ask, "is--" Then making a face as he remembered the 'no questions' part of the rule. His mother would have her secrets then. "Am I allowed to ask what you're going to do to keep the girls busy while I'm gone? And to please make sure Billie doesn't just stay in her room and worry about me. I think she's going to try."

[fragmcntedsouls]

Gripping the handle of the knife tighter, Keelin hissed “I thought i’d make it a fair fight” forcing herself to keep her irritation locked tight – but even she wasn’t that skilled. Laine’s audacity alone was enough to force her rage to the surface. There was a score to be settled, but Keelin wasn’t about to let Delainey walk away with the upper hand. The bitch would be lucky if she was walking out at all. A sharp breath was inhaled and her jaw tightened, “please, you think that scares me? Try anything, and i’ll kill you myself. The blade’s neat, but you were right the first time – i’ve got claws and you walked into uncharted territory.” Gesturing with a glance towards the idle bodies around, she taunted, “and i’m the one here with reinforcements. My friends over there, they’ll already be taking care of yours. I hope you didn’t bring the valuable ones.” Each muscle tightened as Laine leaned closer and Keelin really was exercising every ounce of self restraint not to use those claws. “And i’m telling you, you aren’t getting anywhere near her. Try it and you'll realise how inferior you really are.” The very nature of Laine's words made her sick; the sensation causing for each organ to shift and contort as her voice became strained. "You tortured her; murdered her, but that still isn't enough is it? It was never enough for you bastards. You're sick." Her words were followed by a humourless scoff, "delusional if you think for a second, i'd buy any of this bullshit.” Keelin’s tone then dropped to a warning, heightened by Laine’s insistence to bring her son into it “she isn’t a weapon, she sure as shit isn't your weapon to utilise. Bargain all you want, you aren't getting to her." Whilst the tension still hadn't eased, Keelin's composure remained unwavering. "I heard that she did a real number on you though; bet that stings.”

Her eyes trailed down to the knife by her hand, a warning heard loud and clear. "What, no claws?" Laine taunted, as she reached down and pulled the knife straped to her thigh and holding it up for the mama wolf to see. "This is mine, see that glass along the blade," she explained, "that mixture inside, it's wolfsbane. Once inside, I press a little button on the handle, the signal pulsates through the blade, shading the glass, and...I think you get the very painful picture." Leaning a little closer, she made eye contact with the wolf. "I'm asking nicely. I really don't think you want me to come get her by force. I'm willing to barter for her. But you see, the OEA has put a number of resources into building her into what she is, and I would like my investment paid back. She can set her hours, she'll be treated well, offer a certain level of security for Briggs. If I don't have to waste more resources to extract her. So name your price. I'll drink slowly."

[fragmcntedsouls]

Her frame supported him entirely as he leaned further into her embrace. Arms tightening with each passing second as she held onto him as though she alone possessed the ability to hold him together. Within his agony, she could feel her own heart breaking; his confession causing for her blood to run like ice through her veins. Her heart plummeted into her stomach, imminent to pull him from the kitchen and guide him through into a room that could offer them privacy. For somebody who had constant advice to offer, she suddenly found herself at a complete loss for words.

“You –" her eyes closed for a moment, her mind racing a mile a minute as she inhaled a soft breath of his familiar scent "oh sweetheart.” Forcing her composure, Keelin refused to let go; struggling to piece together the fragments of his confession. Whether or not he told the hunter to pull the trigger, that didn't make him accountable and Keelin would stand with her son. "Told who, Briggs? -- what happened?" Her head lifted just enough to look at him, a hand raising to cup his cheek as she retorted with complete confidence "no matter what, none of this was your fault. You have to believe me, baby. This is not on you. You didn't get Riley killed."

He was safe again, even if it was only momentary. The battle was far from over, but he realized Asher had been right all along: this was impossible. We’re not single handedly taking down a worldwide organization, Briggs. If anything, today is just going to piss them off. He had really started to believe he was doing something, and in the end, he had flown too close to the sun. But when he fell, he took everyone he loved with him. He wasn't a hero, a victor, a king...he wasn't anything.

He wrapped his arms tighter around his mother, clinging to her like her touch alone could heal all. "It is," he confessed, guilt pouring out of him like the tempest that greeted him after the prison world, "the hunters...that was me. I told him to shoot them, I burned the bodies. Tonight was my fault. What they did to Riley...was my fault. I got my best friend killed..."

[fragmcntedsouls]

"How else am I supposed to meet my witty quips quoter for the day if not here?" she mused before adding with a grimace "from Klaus?" Keelin could sense his anxiety and she understood implicitly. As a mother, she dreaded this day; but as a wolf it had always been anticipated.

The scent of the concoction was first to land with her senses, knowing her son and Riley well enough to expect some kind of scientific discovery, as if she hadn't already mastered the art in her own youth.

Digging a hand into her pocket, she retrieved a creation of her own, mastered in college after triggering her own curse. "I don't even wanna know what that is" she mused, holding up her own offering before pulling it back just a little with a playful warning “don’t ask questions and definitely do no tell your mom about this; because we are responsible parents who do not condone this behaviour.” A smile tugged at her lips as she handed it over, "oh and you might wanna sit down for it."

( @exitiumstarters )

The full moon was fast approaching, and Briggs could feel it in his bones. He always felt it when untriggered, but there was something different about it now. A connection, a tether, a noose. His fuse was shorter these days, but he wasn't sure if that was the wolf's rising or the sheer terror of what was coming.

"Sorry no witty quips today," he growled as he took a drag from his wolfsbane-weed combination, hoping whoever approached would just leave him alone in this hell, "try again in 5-7 business days."

[fragmcntedsouls]

"That is funny" Keelin quipped, her expression entirely deadpan as the words were delivered, "almost as funny as that attitude of yours." Glancing towards the glass that was pushed closer and the weight of the expectation behind it, she wore a forged smile as she topped it off with soda water, before pushing it back towards Ronan. "Enjoy."

"And here I thought the weird rashy thing on my foot could finally have a doctor with such wisdom as yours looked at," he sarcastically replied, eyes narrowed for a moment before he downed his drink. "Don't threaten me with a good time," he said as he pushed his glass forward, as if expecting her to know what to do next

[fragmcntedsouls]

Keelin gave Nadia an expressive once over, dark hues scanning the vampire for any signs of harm before nodding “you don’t look injured to me and right now, I can use all the help I can get.” 

She had decided to stay and help, her knowledge of medical skills being appreciated by many she helped. Why had she done it? She wasn't sure - probably boredom - but either way she was at the point where she couldn't just leave, she was too far into what she was doing. "Me?" she said in slight surprise, "are you sure you aren't mistaking me for someone else?"