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@stileshqs

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There’s a corner of my heart that is yours. And I don’t mean for now, or until I’ve found somebody else, I mean forever. I mean to say that whether I fall in love a thousand times over or once or never again, there’ll always be a small quiet place in my heart that belongs only to you.

Beau Taplin || T h e  C o r n e r   (via afadthatlastsforever)

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sarcasticsxtiles:

Stiles felt like he was losing everyone lately. Scott, Camille, Malia, Allison, his Dad, Cora… Thankfully he still had Vic and hell, even Lydia. But, there was no way in hell he wouldn’t put up a fight for the people he loved. He wouldn’t let them slip through his fingers just like they were nothing. They meant a hell of a lot more to him than that. How you feel… Being mad, I feel it all the time! It never goes away! Crazy angry. Thoughts just just persistently circle my head and you really want to be around someone like that? He blinked and nodded, while keeping his brown eyes on her the whole time. “Yes, I do. I wouldn’t be here if not.”

He understood the being angry all the time. He had gone through it with his mom, when she had passed away, and hell, he felt it now even, not as often and not as obvious as before. It was something he had learn to keep to himself, something he would get out of his system whenever he was alone, though it was a little difficult as whenever he’d be somewhere to get his frustration out, Scott would either call or be there within the blink of an eye. “I know it’s hard to believe, but it does get better. At one point, the pain will still be there, but you will find a way to learn to live with it. And that’s not… That’s not something you should feel guilty for doing. It is what Derek would have wanted for you. To be happy,” Stiles said and smiled weakly, “Maybe not with me, because we all know what he felt about me, hm?” he said and laughed softly, obviously kidding. The two of them never had the best relationship, but Stiles felt like Derek knew that he cared about Cora and that he’d do anything for her. 

Makes you the person that I love. Stiles stared at Cora, a little surprised he had the balls to actually say those words out loud. He blinked and looked at Cora, who shook her head and he closed his mouth, while the blinking of his eyes slowed down as he stared at her as she almost looked like she didn’t believe the words coming from his mouth. Y- You can’t mean that… “I do. I wouldn’t say something like that if I didn’t mean it,” he whispered. 

Looking at Cora, Stiles could see that the wheels in her head were spinning, probably trying to process everything that had happened. He hated that he had to tell her that he couldn’t make the pain stop, but if anyone would be able to make it stop, or at least soften, it would be her. No one else. Cora had to look into herself and find that strength that he knew were in there somewhere. “I know it hurts. And I know it’s painful, but it gets better. When I lost my mom, I thought I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed again. And for a while, I didn’t. I stayed inside, and I wallowed in my pain and the feeling of loneliness that washed over me, but then I remembered that I still had people who loved me. My Dad, Scott… You have people like that, too,” he spoke, hoping the words would sink in. It doesn’t get better though does it? We just learn to block the grief out. “No, it gets better, Cora. You… You have to believe that. You have to have hope.” Blinking, he thought of Scott and his heart ached a little. 

I wish a sorry could bring him back. Because I am sorry too. “I know you are,” he whispered and swallowed against the lump in his throat as he looked into her tear-filled eyes. He let his thumb move across her cheek as he continued to keep her face captured by the help of his large hands. “It wasn’t your fault,” Stiles whispered, while continuing to keep his brown eyes on her. “You hear me? What happened to Derek, it wasn’t your fault.” Then what she did next surprised him; her head dropped and she took a step forward, resting her head on his left shoulder. He blinked and stood there in shock, before he wrapped his arms around her petite body, pulling her as close to him as humanly possible. He moved one of his arms around the upper part of her back, pressing his fingertips into her shoulder as he pressed the side of his face into her head as it just about reached his mouth area. 

What you said earlier, did you mean it? “I meant it,” he whispered and squeezed her softly against him, before whispering the next part, “I meant every single word, okay?”

Cora always found a way of being able to relate to someone if they had been through something a little similar, even if it might have been different. Like with Cami, she’d lost her brother too, so when the young Hale arrived in New Orleans thinking Derek was dead, she could show some empathy and understanding towards the blonde. Yet lately, it seemed like everything that had happened to her was all that she could focus on. She knew it sometimes made her cold and aggressive, but it wasn’t something she could process enough to be able to stop--simply because she didn’t want to, it was helping her to keep hold of the fragments of her own sanity which kept cracking at random moments.  

She needed to ask him why he wanted to be here with her, but she knew Stiles well enough to know that he would have an answer for that too, which would leave her even more frustrated at not being able to understand his thought process. When if the truth was known, Cora made choices about who she liked even when it went against the majority, so deep down there had to be a little understanding there even if she wasn’t willing to admit it. 

“I guess not.” --that was the best she could offer him without any protest.

It was unbearable to even think what Derek would want for her. To digest that thought just brought another load of pain and so when Stiles stated Derek would want to her to be happy, Cora can only shake her head slowly. 

“He....he was finally finding happiness...he deserved that...and now what?...because I wanted that more than anything for him too!..I want her dead...that bitch...I want her dead....then I will be happy.”

She was lying. She was fully aware that killing Jennifer might bring a heap of satisfaction, but it wouldn’t make her happy. She was just living with the hope that if and when it happened, it might bury one or two of her own demons.

Her expression did change slightly when she thought about Derek with Stiles and how he had caught them together when making out.

“He liked you..in his own way. He would’ve got used to you too.”

She inhaled deeply as she attempted to shift a visual in her mind of how things might’ve been with her brother still around and again, the pain hit her.

“This doesn’t work. Me being like this, thinking about better times--it just makes me angry that I can never have what I want....”

A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed thickly to try and make it disappear. If she spoke, it would have come out all raspy so the young wolf cleared her throat before talking again. 

“Hope?...I don’t see any.”

She stated simply but in her head that was a very loaded comment, full of negative thoughts and she didn’t want Stiles to hear them and so her dark hues just remained on him as she dropped silent for a few seconds. Her eyes closed as his thumb slowly stroked across her cheek. When she opened them, tears brimmed underneath. 

“It was Blakes fault...and I won’t rest until she’s dead....but Derek got to know her better for me...because I told him to cut her some slack....if I didn't do that..he might have been more on guard!...if I would’ve taken what was going to happen to me...he would be alive and with Hayley!” She truly believed that whilst Derek would have thought his world had ended if he’d have lost her, he had Hayley to get him through it and he would have been okay.

She daren’t even look at Stiles as she waited for his answer, though she did focus on his heartbeat and it was then she had the confirmation of the truth she knew she’d heard leave his lips. 

“Okay.....”

Cora felt the same way, but couldn’t say it...not yet, but she hoped with every fibre of her being that Stiles would know she felt the same, especially when she pulled him that little bit closer and rested her head on his shoulder. 

“I’m glad you’re here.”

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

awildcuriosity:

“Is that ‘for now’ meant to be some kind of threat towards a revolution or is it common for the power to switch between whichever species is strongest at the time?”

They wondered since it seemed to be more of a dictatorship than anything in favour of the vampires right now, especially if the werewolves had been forced from their home because of it. “Nor me really, it may be a tad unreasonable to tar all the family just by an experience with him.”

They could probably find out more if they wanted to by simply asking Tajim if he knew anything about them but that could set their husband down a dangerous path… No, they wouldn’t risk it.

“That seems to be the case with most families… and a great deal of gangs as well.” they added wryly.

“If people only did stuff because there was a need for it then the world wouldn’t be as good a place as it is… despite the millions of flaws that are still very much here.” They were sorry that she needed to deal with pain like this alone, but then… perhaps she did have someone?

“It’s hardly a great thing to hear, more often than not it doesn’t help at all and only makes the person saying it feel better for trying to be good.” They sighed, “I guess to make it more accurate I don’t think it’s fair what you’ve had to deal with nor the pain you’ve got to go through. No one else can understand that until they’ve gone through it themselves.” God they hoped he never had to lose his family like that…

Granted they were a lonely child but losing either of their parents or Tajim (forbid the thought) seemed unrecoverable.

“I did speak with him and he elucidated… mainly because I don’t think he wanted to tell me outright, that he and his only hurt or hunted the kinds or creatures that deserved it.”

“But there’s two sides to every story so perhaps what they classify as ‘deserving’ is not what others may agree with.” It was a difficult decision to make when they knew so little about either side.  

“Oh, never mind then. It’s a story I heard about an ancient werewolf so I was wondering if you might know about it.”

Odds were their worry about those claws was mainly of their own overreaction. After all, if such a powerful and terrifying beat had ever existed then it’s own kind would know about it? The thought brought a little more comfort to them on the matter.

“Most dictatorships do tend to end badly.” they said with a small nod, “But there’s always collateral damages in wars.”

They sighed, thinking that odd were the humans would be the ones to play the part of that collateral damage; after all, most of them were unaware that such a war was even possible. Beyond that younger, weaker vampires, werewolves and maybe even witches could pay a price for being guilty by association.

“Oh not everyone,” they smiled, “Just the people I like.” Which was true, for all her prickliness Vic had taken a liking to Cora.

They suspected she could do with a friend about now.

“Oh, so how is territory marked for packs then? When you’re in full wolf form I guess it may be as simple as marking one’s ground but is it a little more nuanced when you’ve got your human elements to content with as well?” They didn’t want to offend her again by assuming. “Ahh, so Chris may hold to this code by others in his family do not.”

Vic sighed, “It’s a difficult thing, people love their family and that love can make a person blind to flaws.” Which may include not acting as one should within this ‘Hunting’ business.

One more thing to try and understand.

“There’s similarities between everything if you’ve the patience to look. No shame in it.”

Frankly it might serve to help people get along a little better.

“Lots of people have told me I’ve a quick learner, but honestly you’ve been pretty good and patient when explaining it to me.”

They smile, but suspected their many questions were perhaps beginning to grate; Vic could already think of several more things they’d like to know but perhaps they were best saved for another time when Cora had been given a break from them.  

"That’s good to hear.”

They spoke softly and nodded.

“I don’t think he liked me very much.”

Their tone turned wry at that remark, but they supposed on some level even Klaus wouldn’t kill Vic without thinking it through first… The Arcane Society would demand revenge for it, or so they’d like to hope.

“He cared about this person… In his own way.”

Granted the vampire seemed too emotionally constipated to even consider being genuinely open with another person.

“Yea… I mean, while vampire life does sound interesting I’m very happy as I am thank you.”

They nodded and pushed up to their feet.

“Of course, I don’t want to keep you; though… Can I ask you to be careful and wish you the best till I see you again?”

“Vic....”

Cora ran her hand down her face and let out a heavy sigh.

“I don’t know shit about revolutions and stuff okay?--I just know nobody with power should be complacent about it and think they will always rule.”

The young wolf wasn’t sure about what the future held, but it wasn’t like she minded that much about living in the bayou, it was just the rule they weren’t allowed in the french quarter which she couldn’t see herself sticking to over a long term. Which is why it was far easier for something to happen before her temper got the better of her and she ended up getting herself killed.

“Well, it’s a good job we think that way then isn’t it?....because if I tarred all one family with the same brush because of one of them doing wrong, I’d have certainly ripped the Argents apart. Seems I am the reasonable one after all.”

She was fully aware they’d originally been on about the Mikaelsons, but felt too strongly not to comment when he had stated it might be a ‘tad unreasonable’.

“Life is never fair though. It makes you think you have something for a while and then it rips it away again. If anyone tells me it is some test and that these things are sent to try us, I will punch them in the fucking face.”

It was all a load of rubbish in her eyes and just some pathetic excuse that it said to others who wonder why they have been dealt such a shitty hand. This wasn’t any sort of test--this was just one thing after another to weed out those who gave up and those who survived--she was going to be the latter, even if it destroyed her in the process. 

Cora listened as he spoke briefly about Chris and she remained quiet without commenting. Even though Vic came across as a very genuine and honest guy, she couldn’t help but wonder how taken in he could be by the Argents words. What would happen if Chris spouted his opinions and advice at him?..would Vic change his attitude towards her? Matt had been fine until he spoke with Chris and she’d stated she was a wolf. All of it was starting to confirm her thinking of just letting people stay at a distance and not trying to be reasonable with them.

“At this point, I probably should warn you not to like me. Though you don’t seem deterred by anything else I have said, so I won’t bother.”

Of course, there was quite a violent side to the young Hale and it was down to being a werewolf, but he really hadn’t triggered that side of her at the moment, so yes..quite an achievement really. Although the bombardment of questions he kept firing her way, had made Cora have to restrain her impatience at times. So it came as a relief when he eased off a bit. 

“Well at least you know Klaus doesn’t really like most people--so it’s not like you are the unpopular one.”

She was still angry at the Original and chose not to display it to Vic because if anything, it was something she’d rather take up with Klaus personally. Not yet though. She might be reckless with her own life since Derek’s death, but she clearly must have held a little self-preservation without realising it, because she left the Mikaelson house and didn’t argue it any more. 

“You can ask me to be careful, yes.”

Her expression softened ever so slightly.

“Maybe things will be better next time we see each other.”

--or maybe they will be a lot worse. Maybe she won’t be around anymore. Either way, it was something else she chose not to air out loud. 

“Let me offer you something. Don’t assume all wolves aren’t out to hurt you. If you don’t want to be compelled by a vampire and end up doing something against your will--or have your memory wiped without your knowledge...you had better start drinking vervain...or carrying it around with you in some jewellery. Don’t trust anyone with your mind.”

She paused and gave a small nod before turning to leave.

“Bye, Vic.”

Wandering by the Bayou || Vic & Cora

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

mattheweddonovan:

He didn’t know what else to say. Whatever she said it was wrong. It was either a lie. Or it was something she didn’t wanna hear. She wanted him to trust her, blindly. And he really wanted to do so, but he couldn’t just flip that switch in his brain. He didn’t know what she was capable of, what she would do. He hoped she’d never hurt him. But he did wonder if she could really promise not to do so.

“You’re grieving, Cora…” At least, Matt hoped she was. If this was her acting out because she was grieving, it meant that somehow their friendship could be saved somewhen. Not right now. They were worlds apart and it seemed that he was kinda the last person she actually wanted to see. But maybe someday. When the pain had faded, when he was more used to everything, when they were both in a much better place. 

“I’m here!” Matt let out a deep sigh. “Do you think I’d be here if I chose against you? I haven’t heard from Chris in a while, Allison is acting different.” He licked his lips. “I choose you. And Malia. And Hayley. And the others.” He had to be honest. So far not one of the wolves had been acting out towards him, apart from Cora right now. But maybe, if she could control herself while she was this angry, she could indeed promise to never hurt him.

“Everything changed for me too! The entire fucking world changed!” He screamed at her, knowing that he shouldn’t do it. But he couldn’t help himself and he hated him for it. “I needed some time to adjust. I didn’t know…” He sighed. “I didn’t know things would go this wrong in the mean time.” How could he have known? How could he have known that the wolves would be banished? That everything in this town would change?

“And I can fucking blame you for not telling me!” If she could act unreasonable, he’d act unreasonable too. He was not gonna crawl and beg for her to like him again. He wanted to understand her, what she was, what she could do. But that understanding had to work both ways. He hadn’t asked for any of this. He was trying to deal with this shit. Maybe he was not doing well. But he needed time. More time than it seemed he had.

“What else can I do apart from saying sorry and telling that I chose you? What do you want me to do? Turn back time? I CAN’T DO THAT!” He breathed in and out and stepped backwards, away from her, from her anger, from the signs she was losing herself. He had felt Malia’s nails piercing his skin. Maybe he shouldn’t tell Chris about that, and this. 

“Because you don’t fucking tell me!” He wasn’t a good talked himself, but it seemed that Cora wasn’t great at it either. Well, that was a perfect base for a long term friendship. Right?

“Let me know when you can talk calmly about any of this.” Matt caught himself before he crashed on the floor. “Or when you need a shoulder to cry on.” He turned around and walked out of the door. And deep down he hoped that she would call. He hoped that she would call soon.

“You haven’t heard from Chris in a while??..so that’s why you are here! if you and he would have been buddies who saw one another often then I wouldn’t have you here now would I!”

Come to think of it, Cora hadn’t seen Chris in a while but she saw it as a good thing, because crossing paths with the older Argent in her present state wouldn’t be very good for either one of them.

She cast a quick glance over at Matt, but her visual was swift in diverting away once more. Keeping her eyes on him was difficult, simply because it reminded her how they once were--that she liked him and how in her own mind, it had all been lost--everything was lost.....she was lost. 

Her eyes narrowed at him when he said he chose her, Hayley and Malia. The young Hale had been lied to so often lately that she really didn’t know who to trust anymore. People had told her they wanted to help, they’d said they cared and she really shouldn’t have believed one or two of them.

“If you weren’t so close to Malia...would you still have chosen the same?”

Her tone of voice had changed to a cold but calm one and the volume had lowered too, but it changed just as quickly when she responded to what he’d said next. 

“Yeah and when your world fucking changes you really find out who your friends are don’t you, Matt!!”

She didn’t mention his sister and how she had done her best to support him, because she didn’t want to accept that was what he was doing for her right now. Her emotions were that fragile, she had to hide them with everything she had because once they surfaced she knew she would break.

“Don’t you dare point your fucking finger at me!!....I am not to blame for your attitude when you found out what I am...what did you expect me to do?...go around telling everyone I am a wolf??...I would’ve been dead long ago....I told you because I trusted you and you were my friend!!...it shouldn’t have mattered what I am...I understood it was a shock...but what I didn’t expect was you to be a damn judgemental asshole!!”

Anger flowed through her veins and she threw the nearest object she could pick up, which was a mug she’d had earlier. Her aim was always accurate, so when it smashed to his right without hitting him, it was purposely done.

“I don’t want to talk about this at all!...let alone talk about it calmly.....I don’t want anyone’s shoulder to cry on....I don’t want anything from anyone!...I want my fucking brother back!!”

There was a slight pause as she swallowed thickly, realising what she had said at the latter end. Cora didn’t want Matt to sympathise or to suddenly soften with his words...so she turned and used her wolf speed to leave, pushing past him as he left.

Cora ran...because heated words--physical fights, letting people get pissed, pushing them away, it was all far easier to deal with than going through processing just how traumatic it had been to watch her brother have his skull crushed.

A man a man, a wolf a wolf || Cora & Matt

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

sarcasticsxtiles:

No. Stiles stopped talking and looked at Cora, feeling his chest tighten at the vulnerability in her voice. Honestly, Stiles didn’t know what had happened that day, with the three of them and Jennifer. Only those four would know the truth, and he wished it was different. Stiles wished that he could have been in her place. No one should have to go through that, nor should they have to see their brother be murdered. The anger inside of him was starting to build though; if Allison and Lydia had in fact left Cora to defend for herself… He needed to talk to them, and he needed to find out why the hell they would do something like that. But I won’t try to change your mind when it comes to her. She is your friend after all. Stiles took a deep breath and nodded, blinking and looking elsewhere for a second. And with that, he realized that Lydia was a topic that was done being discussed. 

Say something. He blinked and looked at her, still in a bit of a shock. Stiles didn’t know what to say. For the first time in a long time, he was at a loss for words. The young male felt like his brain was working overtime and he was starting to get a horrendous headache because of it. His brown eyes darted over to Cora every once in a while, taking in everything about her face; the way her brows furrowed after she had told him she didn’t mean to hurt him for instant or how she inhaled and swallowed as she was obviously trying to calm down.

What? He shook his head and explained, every single word that fell from his mouth felt like daggers were being pushed into his chest. Why? You must be mad! “Of course I’m mad!” he yelled and took a step forward. “How could I not be mad, Cora?!” His voice cracked and he shook his head, sighing softly, “But I don’t hate you. I could never hate you, no matter what you’d do!” It m-makes what?… Makes the person that you what? Stiles took a deep breath and pressed his lips together, while looking at Cora as he had said too much. Just tell her; he said to himself but he kept looking at her as she searched his eyes for something. His brown eyes watched her tongue as it flicked out and moved across her lips. 

“Makes you the person that I love.” 

Stiles. His voice cracked, more than once throughout their conversation. 

Make it stop… Can you make it stop hurting? Up here?

Stiles parted his lips slowly and he felt his heart break into a million pieces at the words and movements made by Cora; the way she tapped the side of her head. Stiles also felt like this meant that he was okay to approach her, so he did it. Slowly, the young male took a couple of steps forward and moved his hand to the side of her face, cupping it and tilting her head backwards ever so slightly as he was a lot taller than her. Because some days I feel like I am drowning in grief and an overload of emotions. Then others I feel nothing. Nothing at all! It’s as though I am void of anything and I am starving for some little drop of emotion. I don’t know which is worse! He took a deep breath, tilted his head a little to the side as he moved his thumb across the skin where Cora had tapped her fingers against before. He could feel her body trembling underneath his touch. 

“I can’t make it stop,” he whispered, “I’m sorry, Cora, but I can’t. And as horrible as it is, it gets better as the years go by. As stupid as that sounds, it does get better at one point. You will learn how to live with it. It’s really a ridiculous thing to say or think but it will happen at one point, Cora.” Stiles took a deep breath and continued to look at her, moving his fingers across the side of her cheek. “I’m sorry.” And he really was.

In those following moments, Cora felt like the bottom which had fallen out of her world, had caught on the heels of her shoes and dragged her down twice as quickly, plunging her into a place she never wanted to be. She’d avoided Stiles for one reason--actually two big reasons. The first was Cora feared her own anger would explode onto him and that is exactly what had happened. Granted, it was because she was trying to deny her feelings for the guy, but she’d still lashed out--not something she would ever forgive herself for. The second reason was being around him made her feel like she belonged in a world she really hated right now. This world offered nothing but pain--hypocritical one-sided bullshit that caused death because of power freaks and biased ways of thinking and Stiles seemed to be the light in it all, the small flicker of something which might offer her happiness and being happy was something she felt she didn’t deserve. 

“How you feel...being mad..I feel it all the time!..it never goes away!...crazy angry.....thoughts which just persistently circle my head,,and you really want to be around someone like that??”

The young Hale didn’t like feeling that way and she didn’t like herself very much with some of the thoughts that would sometimes be on her mind. Yet all of that was totally side-lined and her eyes can do nothing but remain on him when he answers her question about what he means. 

“Makes you the person that I love.”

Her head shook slowly as though she couldn’t quite understand what he was saying. Her entire body stumbled a little as she took a step backwards. Cora parted her lips to say something but nothing would leave her mouth only an exhale of breath which had been involuntarily forced from her lungs. So she quickly drew in another breath, but couldn’t quite manage to expand her lungs enough.

“Y-You can’t mean that....”

She had to deny it to herself because believing his words would mean digesting that someone else could ever feel that way about her. Family were blood, so that was why they’d loved her, but Stiles?..he didn’t have to, there were definitely far easier girls to want to be with.  

Then it occurred to her that her way of thinking had changed, it had become warped and lost with the loss of her brother--the betrayal of Jennifer Blake, because Cora Hale used to be this girl who might not have experienced a few things girls of her age had when it came to the social aspect, but she used to have belief in herself. She had confidence even when she was hiding a nervousness and it was with that realisation she just blinked at him and drowned in the words she’d revealed to him about the grief she was enduring.

“I can’t make it stop.”

The young wolf knew full well he couldn’t. Only she could make it all stop in her head, but she honestly felt like it never would. It had taken her so long to make the nightmares fade about the fire and they never left her totally but things had been a lot better. Yet since Derek had died, everything came back to her tenfold and his death had just magnified the nightmares even more. Though this was not something she would declare, these were for her to know on her own. 

“It doesn’t get better though does it...we just learn to block the grief out...I know that because it’s what I did when I lost my family.”

Cora looked up at him as he cupped her face, her eyes wide and tears made the skin around them wet. Her heart was broken, her psyche on the verge of fracturing and all that was keeping things glued together was being angry. Yet where Stiles was concerned, this wasn’t so. 

“I wish a sorry could bring him back.....because I am sorry too.”

She was sorry she’d howled for her alpha--for her brother, sorry she’d ever got him to go easy on the Blake bitch and more than anything she was sorry she couldn’t help him like he had done for her.

Cora dropped her head more, one step forward too and the left side of it had found Stiles’ shoulder. She wanted to sink into it--breathe him in and see if it could water down the hurt she was feeling.

“What you said before....did you mean it?”

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

ty-lockwood:

Tyler heard her coming before she stepped into his path, a pang of guilt hitting him square in the chest at the sight of the Derek’s sister who had been left behind in all of the mess. He felt horrible about that day. About the fact that he’d ignored his gut instinct so intently that they’d literally only just found them in the nick of time. That Derek might not have died if they’d gotten there even a few minutes earlier. That Lydia had been so traumatized that he’d heard her cry through the night and they’d found each other curled up next to each other in his bed, just for the comfort of another’s presence. Tyler still wasn’t even sure exactly what had gone down that day, but he’d felt an overwhelming amount of guilt in the wake of it. He could have done more.

Stunned for a moment, Tyler dipped his tongue between his lips to moisten them, eyeing her cautiously. “How long have you been out here for? I know Hayley’s worried.” 

Cora wasn’t exactly sure what to think of Tyler. The past had seen them butting heads in a very aggressive way and yet when Derek had died, she’d seen him trying to help. It was just a really bad time for the young Hale right now because she’d already started the day in a bad mood and it had sort of taken a downward spiral from that point. Plus as far as she was aware, he was still the same arrogant jerk she knew when she’d knocked him on his ass in the past. 

“Does it matter? Hayley needs to concentrate on worrying about the others--not me.”

Cora has pushed so many people away lately and he was not going to be an exception. If she was honest, at the moment he was falling into the category of a few other wolves in the bayou who she chose to pick fights with.

“So are you Hayley's side-kick now huh?...you the one comforting her in her time of need?”

She stepped closer to him and cocked her head to one side.

“Are you screwing her, Tyler?”

She was pretty sure she knew the answer to that anyway, but Cora was being antagonistic and doing her best to push his buttons.

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

Help me, it's like the walls are caving in Sometimes I feel like giving up No medicine is strong enough Someone help me I'm crawling in my skin Sometimes I feel like giving up But I just can't It isn't in my blood

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

awildcuriosity:

Vic nodded, though it seemed they need not have bothered with the confirmation; Cora was more than happy to elaborate upon the inner workings between the differing species of the supernatural. And while her view was no doubt biased (it was almost impossible for any view not to be) They found some elements of her explanations tied in very well with their own experiences. Vic fought down the urge to look shocked at her mentioning of Klaus… The very same vampire their unfortunate encounter had been with; though it made them wonder about the rest of that vampire’s family, were they just as bad?  

“I see. So, the vampire’s currently have the most power within the city? Since this, Marcel… the one who hosted the opera house part?” they asked, unable to keep on the same tangent without branching off as new thoughts came, “Banned them from the quarter? And the Mikaelsons,” they swallowed and paused a beat, “Could you tell me some more about them? Are they all as bad as this Klaus is? And if that family’s the one to watch out for why is Marcel giving orders?” They knew so little of this world that every bit of information that could get seemed worth asking for. “I don’t know a Jennifer Blake, but then I haven’t been looking for Witches,” they paused a moment, eyes tightening as Cora continued.

“I’m so sorry that you lost your brother.” they said quietly, a real sympathy for the girl building up, was that why she was here? Was she on her own? It made them all the more determined to try and wiggle their way into the girl’s life, everyone needed someone. And if a person as odd as them could find someone that loved them then Cora deserved a little help too. “The Argents are my neighbours, I don’t know a Kate but… Chris seemed like a good man… Have you ever heard of the beast of gevaudan?” They changed the subject.  

“A war? Are you serious?“

She didn’t seem the type of girl given to hyperbole… Did Tajim have any idea about these events? He worked at the Arcane society, surely those people were aware if the tensions within the supernatural community were running this high?

“Oh… Well, why not come inside to listen to it?” they asked simply, “You’d be welcome at my house, Tajim wouldn’t mind.”

They were certain of it but made the offer casual, they didn’t want her to feel pressured or anything.

“So, different packs might have different rules? Wouldn’t you all be in the same one?” They frowned a little, “Like a uhh… New Orleans Werewolf pack?” It made sense to them, were’s of a feather would flock together. But then, how many wolves were in the city? Maybe too many for one pack.

“A code… Oh I think I know that!” they said, eyes widening a little, “Chris mentioned it,” they saw no harm telling her since she’d brought up the Argents first, “They only went after the creatures that attacked people, they were supposed to protect rather than hunt… makes you wonder why they still go by hunters really.” they added.

“So, a vampire is like a werewolf who’s always in a hungry mood?”

And they had enough trouble not eating when they were hungry… That was a worrying comparison.

“Good thing I haven’t lied so far then.” They chuckled.

Vic looked back at her with a small smile, as though they had nothing to hide which, really, they didn’t. They’d been honest about their intentions for the whole conversation.

“So… being a werewolf isn’t the end of your spectrum, so to speak?” They asked, tilting their head a bit, “It’s sort of like, a mid-point, a missing link between human and beast?” They looked to her for confirmation and continued, “And under the luna influence these more feral urges comes to the surface and boom! Full on wolf?”

“Are you the same size as a regular wolf would be?” They asked, “It seems like you guys got the short end of the stick with the whole transformation thing.” They blinked a few times, “But then you’ve only got it under the full moon whereas vampire’s have that urge all the time…”

“It’s not about not being honest, I’m just worried especially since, well…” If they didn’t tell her outright but she figured it out on her own then technically they’d not broken their word…

“You mentioned this vampire by name, apparently the worst of his family…” they blinked up at her.

“Oh he didn’t care but… he was appeasing the other person when he fixed me up, and I can’t tell you who that is because it’s not my secret to share, I’m sorry,” They didn’t want Cami’s business being spread around when she couldn’t even remember it.

“Umm… Not for sure but I’m guessing maybe I’d be a little more… fangy?” they asked, imitating having fangs with two fingers as they said it.

“They have the most power within the city.....for now.”

Cora had to add those two words onto the end of her sentence because there was no way in hell she was going to accept that it would be forever. She had to believe at some point in the future, the tables would be turned, or at the very least, wolves would not be banished like they were nothing and cast out from society as though vampires were far better. 

“I haven’t had much to do with the Mikaelsons apart from Klaus.”

The young Hale did have a brief fight with Rebekah, but ended up getting skewered like a damn kebab for it, which didn’t make her fear the blonde, in fact, quite the opposite but Cora hadn’t seen the female original since. 

“Elijah seems more reasonable..then again, don’t go by that because you screw with one Mikaelson--you screw with them all I would assume.”

The only reason that Cora was offering the information was that regardless of what she led people to believe, she still did care about some around here and Vic had never come across as intimidating, belittling or obnoxious, not once. 

“It’s not your fault I lost him...so no need for sorry.”

There was a small falter in her tone of voice, because she knew very well it was the kind of thing that others tended to say, ‘sorry’ was some show of sympathy, empathy or maybe both. She’d used the word herself in the past, so knew it was a little hypocritical of her if she got irritated by anyone else using it. 

“...but I know what you mean.”

She kept her calm composure and offered him a weak and brief smile before letting it fade rather quickly. 

“Well, Chris probably does seem like a good man...and he more than likely is as far as you’re concerned--because you are not anything supernatural...right?--so he doesn’t deem you as below him and untrustworthy.”

Cora did once hold quite a bit of respect for Chris Argent, but since she felt he acted like a completely unreasonable asshole, the young wolf had dropped her level of respect. 

“What?....no...I have never heard of that. Don’t tell me, it’s not another book or musical is it?”

The guy was a mind full of information--even if it wasn’t the kind of information which Cora indulged in. At least he wasn’t droning on about himself all the time. In fact, he only spoke about himself when she directly asked him.

“A war is inevitable. When you get one side demanding power--exerting power and unfair restrictions on another side. Something has to give.”

She blinked and let her visual remain on him. Her words were a matter of fact and may be understating the situation between wolves and vampires, but she didn’t really fancy going into any more detail about it. It wasn’t as though Hayley or any of the other wolves had spoken to her about an impending war.

“You’d let me in your house?--you’re trusting. I hope you aren’t that way with everyone.”

Cora took a deep breath and exhaled heavily through her nose.

“I don’t really care what other pack rules are...or how many reside in New Orleans...we tend to leave well alone unless any come encroaching on our territory....but a code yeah--hunters are meant to stick to this code...but it only applies when it suits apparently. You try to tell Chris that his sister doesn’t go by any code and his family values come before anything else.”

How could anyone who claimed to protect the innocent, not extend it to the innocent lives of a werewolf family against the wicked bitch of the hunting world?

Hypocritical bastard. 

“A vampire is nothing like a werewolf. Do show me the damn courtesy of not finding any similarities between us.”

She gave a nod.

“Something like that yeah...you seem to show some understanding of what I have said at least. Enough about asking me now.”

Cora had grown a little tired of explaining the in’s and out’s of being a werewolf, but she did think about her size in wolf form and it was smaller than most wolves she knew. Not that it ever bothered her--she figured she had enough aggression to match a larger wolf. 

“Don’t ever be worried about me. I take care of myself.”

She listened to him speak and her brow furrowed.

“Klaus?..it was klaus who did that to you?”

It would be very easy to go marching around there with the anger she possessed so often lately, but the young Hale knew she was lucky to walk out of the Mikaelsons last time she visited regarding Scott. 

“I’m surprised he cared enough to appease anyone.”

She rolled her eyes, knowing Klaus had it in him to show he cared, but after recently, it had apepared to be nothing but a facade with her.

“Yes. So lucky you eh?....you get to keep living as a human and not some bloodsucker.”

Her gaze diverted to their surroundings and she shrugged.

“I am going to go soon.”

Wandering by the Bayou || Vic & Cora

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

sarcasticsxtiles:

Stiles knew the feeling and the expressions that people give you when you lose someone you love and care about. They look at you as if you’re about to break, if they say one word. They just sit there and wait for you to crumble into a million pieces. For you to give in to the pain, and while Stiles was close to doing that, he knew it was something that Cora wouldn’t do. She was stronger than him. Hell, she was probably the strongest person Stiles knew of and he knew that no matter what the world would throw at her, she would fight it back with ten folds. He just wished she would realize that she didn’t have to do it alone. That she had people who would gladly be there for her. Like him. He swallowed against the tiny lump in his throat and he blinked furiously, his gaze dropping to the ground and he felt a cold wind brush across the back of his neck, making the hair stand out. 

That’s the point, Stiles! okay, this is just for instance, but Lydia didn’t have the time of day for me before- she called my looks-bitched about my clothes and really couldn’t stand the sight of me. He sadly knew what she was talking about; when it came to Lydia. He couldn’t even defend her when it came to her actions towards Cora because he knew the truth. Derek dies and I demand answers about Jennifer at the school and Lydia comes in and makes out she cares? See? It’s all bullshit. “I’m not saying that what Lydia did, was okay, it wasn’t and she should know that but maybe, just maybe she’s trying to make a mend? Trying to fix things? Maybe what happened made her realize that what she did was wrong?” 

I care what happens to you! Stiles parted his lips slowly to respond, but what Cora had said had caught him off guard. For some reason, he hadn’t expected those words to be leaving her mouth. He swallowed and blinked, while keeping his gaze locked with hers. If she cared what happened to him, why was she pushing him away? As Cora’s hand slammed against his cheek, he felt like he had been punched in the gut, too. The pain was almost unbearable. I tried to tell you! You wouldn’t listen. That was true; he wouldn’t. I have hurt you now and it’s only the beginning. Stiles didn’t know why he was so damn persistent when it came to her; maybe because he felt like they had something. Or maybe it was the fact that they had the possibility of being something more. I-I’m so sorry… I never meant to hurt you… I was scared because… Because when you kissed me, you made me feel everything I have always felt for you. Stiles narrowed his eyes and stared at her as she spoke. 

Not the ugly parts, but I guess I failed at that. “You really don’t get it,” Stiles spoke as she dropped her gaze and turned to leave. Running forward, he stopped in front of her, blocking her from going anywhere. The skin where Cora had hit him, still felt like it was on fire. His heart was literally pounding against his chest and he knew that she could very well throw him across the cemetery if she wanted, but he hoped that he was slowly getting to her somehow. Swallowing against the lump in his throat, he whispered,

“I want all that. All those parts that you think that I will hate, they make you who you are. They make you the person you are today. Makes the person that I––.” He stopped and took a deep breath, blinking as he took a step towards her, wanting her to know that he wasn’t scared of her. That what had happened, hadn’t made him run.

“Please, don’t go. Stay,” his voice cracked, “Cora… Stay.”

“No...”

Cora shook her head adamantly as Stiles tried to explain about Lydia. Maybe he was right, but the young Hale couldn’t see it that way at all. The three of them had been vulnerable that day when Jennifer took them and perhaps it was that vulnerability what made Cora open up slightly and actually believe the two other girls had made some connection with her. Yet she’d also seen how they’d helped each other free and scrambled outside without freeing her. Sure, they might have thought about how she was after seeing her brother die, but Cora had to free herself and it wasn't something she was about to forget in a hurry. 

“...but I won’t try to change your mind when it comes to her. She is your friend after all.”

She shot him a slightly dismissive look, not really wanting to talk about the redhead any more, but felt like she had to say something because it validated her feelings on the whole point she was making. 

It is as though her mind was always doing somersaults or like it was an hourglass and somebody kept constantly turning it over from pushing people away, to letting her feelings spill through the small chinks in her armour. It drove her crazy and some days all she could do to openly express it all was lash out and be angry. 

“Say something...”

Why wouldn't he talk?

Her brow furrowed after she’d told him she never meant to hurt him. Instantly she was starting to regret her openness. She didn’t want it to look like she was vulnerable--when in fact she was actually more vulnerable than ever, she just covered it better than people realised. There was a well of panic which started to rise up into her throat and it burned like acid as though she was going to be sick, but Cora inhaled and swallowed thickly, hoping to dispel the sensation a little. 

“You really don’t get it.”

“What?”

The young Hale had never really invested into this kind of relationship, so as they plunged deeper into something that most would tackle head-on, Cora just wanted to run. She never ran from anything, but this?--yeah, she was tempted to flee and leave him in the cemetery. She was no quitter though, no matter how tough things got. 

“Why?...you must be mad!”

She yelled at him purely because it was the only thing she could do with the reply he had just given her. She couldn’t understand anyone who would want all those sides to her, especially when they had been informed of them beforehand. Yet something else had caught her attention.

“It m-makes what?....makes the person that you what?”

Her eyes searched his as he had been successful in stopping her in her tracks. She flicked her tongue out so that a little moisture could touch her lips as they had suddenly become dry. 

“Stiles...”

She heard his voice crack and in that instant, she knew what she felt for him wasn’t going to go away. In fact, what she felt for him, held the power to connect with her other emotions--ones she was so damn determined to keep under lock and key. So whilst to the world she was tough--maybe cold to some and definitely angry to most others, she started to come apart a little in front of him. 

“Make it stop...can you make it stop hurting?...up here?”

She brought her hand up so that her finger tapped the side of her head. 

“Because some days I feel like am drowning in grief and an overload of emotions...then others I feel nothing...nothing at all!...it’s as though I am void of anything and I am starving for some little drop of emotion...I don’t know which is worse!”

She bit on her bottom lip to stop it from trembling a little, but she couldn’t stop the rest of her body betraying her.

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

mattheweddonovan:

Matt rolled his eyes. He was kinda bad with words and he for sure wasn’t good in those fighting kinda things. “Sorry, it’s just…” He couldn’t believe he was actually gonna defend himself. “I didn’t mean it as a bad thing or so…” This whole stuff was new to him. How the hell did he need to call them? Just werewolves? Werecoyotes? Was there a way to include all of them in one word. There probably kinda wasn’t, because it seemed that the word he’d come up with only made her more angry.

Matt took a deep breath. “I feel like everyone is telling me things and want me trust them, while those things are not all the same.” Chris says one thing, Cora says another, Allison says this, Malia says another. It was kinda hard, if not impossible to keep track of all of it. And it was even more impossible to not at least be a little confused. Right?

“You know…other people have told me the same thing. That I should trust them, that we were friends, that they’d never given me reason not to trust them…” Matt shook his head. “You can’t blame me for not being able to make sense of all of this and for not understanding what it all means and what you’re all capable of and what not!” He wanted to trust her, more than anything. But at the moment she made it kinda hard. She was the one yelling at him, not Chris, not Allison. 

“Everyone else seems to think it’s to keep me safe!” Matt screamed back at her. “And to be honest, that sounds like a lot better reason than this one.” He threw his head in his neck and placed the hand in the back of his neck. “You might know about this hidden world all your life, I just figured out that there are werewolves, and vampires and witches. That my friends are those. That there’s politics going on I don’t understand! You can’t blame me for not knowing who to believe when! I needed some time to think about this, but I figured out you were right and that’s why I’m here!” It seemed he was yelling at someone who was deaf though. It seems he had come at the wrong time to be sorry and act like a friend to her.

“I know you don’t want that! But I can’t give you back the one thing you do want!” No one could give him Vicki back. No one could give her Derek back. “And if Derek wouldn’t have died, I’d be here too. With an apology. But I guess you don’t wanna hear it anymore. I might come back later. See if you’re in a better mood or something…” He turned around and walked slowly towards the door, giving her the time to stop him. If she wanted that. 

Rolling his eyes annoyed Cora even more, yet it was something she tended to do a lot when it came to others and it annoyed them too. She remembered how fond Derek was of doing it also and it had kind of emerged as a Hale thing which ran through the family. It came naturally to her and she didn’t even realise she’d done it half the time. So really she had no right to be angry at Matt for doing it, so why was the knot in her stomach becoming tighter with each passing moment?

--this was happening too much. 

Even before she’d got halfway into the conversation with him, the young Hale knew it wasn't going to go well and yet Matt was someone she genuinely really liked--and still did if the truth is known. She’s was making it very difficult to let anyone see anything but anger and hurt at the moment. 

“Look....”

She inhaled deeply and let out a tired sigh as she tried her best to not go ballistic on him.

“.....It doesn’t matter. Whatever you want to refer to me as, none of it damn well matters any more.”

It was the only possible outcome she could come to by letting it go and hopefully they could part without some big argument. 

“Then instead of sitting on the fence...make some choices, Matt!...decide who you feel is telling the truth...who has given no reason to think they are lying and choose them!”

She knew perfectly well that it might not mean her that he chose, but it felt like she’d lost him anyway on the day she told him what she was. 

“I never once gave you a reason to doubt me!--yet you find out what I am and what?--everything changes?”

She threw her hands up slightly as she couldn’t understand his train of thought. Cora understood when you trusted someone and then found out they betrayed you, but not when someone hadn’t done anything to betray that trust. 

“I can fucking blame you!!”

Cora closed the gap between them with the speed of her wolf and infiltrated his personal space. So much for trying to keep things calm. 

“I blame you because you dropped everything we had--our friendship which actually meant something to me--and chose to throw mistrust in my direction--so yes, Matt...everything that has gone on between us, is now down to you!!”

Her dark hues bore into his and Cora wasn’t stupid, she was aware that her aggressive response might not help her corner, but in her eyes, he’d already got it into his head she should be someone to be wary of--someone not to trust--someones Chris Argent would tell him to steer clear of. 

“You don’t know what I want!!”

She grabbed him by his jacket and yanked him closer, though the mention of Derek hit her like a freight train and the young Hale just continued to grip his jacket tightly before finally pushing him away. 

“Just go...turn around and GO!!”

A man a man, a wolf a wolf || Cora & Matt

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

awildcuriosity:

“Really? Would you mind telling me a little more about that?” Vic asked, wondering who specifically it was to make the girl’s words sound so certain. After all their knowledge of the supernatural was rather limited. They knew Psychics, Werewolves, Vampires and Witches existed, but they’d only met one of the first three and no witches as all (to their knowledge) so the nuances of the matter were lost on them. But, the more they thought about it the more sense it made. Despite a species being secret they would form a society and interact. Being different creatures it was likely there’d be disparity (if humanity’s own history was anything to go by) and with that dislike, distrust or even outright hatred between some species. “It sounds like there’s some sort of factional disparity between the different kinds of supernatural?” They added moments later, having thought it through that swiftly.

“You’ve every right to do that,” they said amicably, “Who knows, maybe one, both or neither of us may end up changing our minds.” Though, they’d prefer being able to give Cora some more peace with herself about her place in the world.

“Do you like listening to music?” Vic asked, “Perhaps you could listen to songs while out exploring? Get the best of both worlds.”

They grinned, always happy to come up with a compromise but in this case it seemed they’d found a solution that could fulfil both elements. Not that it mattered in the grand scheme and was a rather simply thing, but it was a tiny victory they took some pleasure in regardless. They needed little happy moments in their life nowadays.

“So,” Vic thought about it for a moment, “There’s no rule against just telling people about what you are?” They asked, “No council or ruling body of all the supernatural’s to try and keep order? You all pretty much look after yourselves?” It would explain the notion of packs, they supposed, safety in numbers if there was no governing body to hold others accountable for their actions. “And that’s why Hunters came about? Just because people were scared of you?” They looked down a little, “That sucks.“

Though, Chris Argent didn’t seem like that kind of man.

“Pretty much, comes with being a philosopher, we can be really literal or really abstract depending on how we feel.” they shrugged.

“Wow, then it must make groups of wolves really interesting and a little awkward. I mean I like to think everyone’s entitled to their secrets, Gods knows how many I had as a teenager.” They’d kept so much from their parents because they’d still been trying to work out who they were at the time. “I guess that makes sense, from what I’ve experienced with vampire’s ‘Tricky’ is an apt term.” Considering one had messed with a woman’s mind rather than have a genuine, meaningful relationship.

But their was probably as much their fault as it was Klaus’ they were an accomplice by proxy by this point and should Cami ever find out what they kept from her, even if it was for her own safety, then she was likely to feel betrayed and never want to speak with them again.

“But, you can hear much better than a human, to the point where you can tell if I’m lying, right?” they asked, still very calm, they’d had thousands of debates in their time and the important thing was to never get too emotional or angry, being passionate was fine. Most of all though, always let the other person speak, so they’d waited until Cora was finished before even reply with that first comment. Although, they were sorry they’d upset her, and hoped that came through as well.

“And you can see a lot better than a person. So, I just wondered if other aspects of your human self were affected by the werewolf part of you. I’m really sorry if it came across as rude or teasing, I promise I wasn’t trying to be. I just… I ask the first thing I think of, and it makes sense to me. But,” they paused a moment, “Does that mean you’re completely a wolf, wild when you’re transformed? Would you recognise me as a wolf?” They asked.

“Uhh, I’m not sure I should tell you Cora, for your own safety. That vampire,” they swallowed, heart-beat going up just slightly as they though of how frightened they’d been for Cami, “They said they’d hurt my friend if I talked about it too much. And I don’t want you getting hurt either,” Vic already thought of the young girl as a friend.

“Besides, I’m fine; I think I had to drink blood to fix the cracked skull and concussion.” They explained lightly.

“Tell you more about those who don’t play fair?”

Cora asked the question almost as if to confirm it was correct, even though she didn’t really stick around to wait for an answer either way. She thought about those who didn’t play fair--those who had one rule for themselves and one for everyone else. Normally Klaus’ name wouldn’t come into it, but the young wolf was angry at him, pissed off at his behaviour towards her and the lack of regard and respect. She had no idea why she thought someone like him would ever care, but he made it abundantly clear he didn’t on their last meeting. 

“Most of the vampires. They have their own interests at heart and everyone else can go to hell. You should steer clear of the Mikaelsons...especially Klaus. Then there’s Marcel. He banned wolves from the quarter and would likely not think twice about killing one if he caught them there...or punish them. Jennifer Blake, I have no idea where the hell she is but she is a murderous bitch who killed my brother. Oh and the Argents...Kate Argent who was meant to go by some moral code like all hunters do, yet she made her own rules and killed an entire family of innocent wolves--even ones who hadn’t triggered the gene yet...only her family seem blinded by what she is capable of.” 

Cora wasn’t always one to sound off like this, but it seemed these kinds of people didn’t give a shit about her, Klaus had not even acknowledged Derek's death--offered any condolences, yet she would have if it had have been Elijah who’d died. So with bitter feeling and a whole truckload of anger, the young Hale wasn’t bothered who heard her opinions--facts.

“There’s a war coming...and if you can’t pick a side, I’d definitely say get out of dodge....real quick before you’ll get caught up in something that is way over your head.”

It wasn't meant to scare him, it was a clear warning simply because he seemed like a decent enough guy, not that she planned on trusting him at all. Everything she had said so far, it wouldn’t matter to her if he was an enemy or not. 

“I can’t listen to music while outside. There are too many things I need to be alert for.”

She wasn’t about to let her hearing be distracted and miss any possible dangers. 

“There are no rules about telling people what I am. I don’t have a clue whether that rule exists in some packs. It’s a case of being careful that’s all. Hunters have always been around as far back as my family can ever remember. They are meant to go by a code though....some don’t.”

Cora had never been one to openly tell people what she was, merely because she believed that they should know her for who she was, not what she was. The only trouble with lately, she didn’t have the same self-preservation as she used to have. 

“Vampires have a natural desire to feed on blood. Werewolves want to hunt and kill when in wolf form...but Vampires have that urge all the damn time.”

--which in her eyes, made them far more dangerous than wolves, apart from if there was a rogue one.

“I can hear whether you are lying, yes. “

She shrugged and cast a glance over at him. If her mind was clouded too much then it could be difficult to do so, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. She would sooner he just stuck to the truth. 

“The abilities stay with me in human form. I can show claws, teeth and change in eye colour too....but everything else comes when I shift to a wolf. I wouldn’t recognise friend from foe when in wolf form because yes, it’s a fully shifted wolf, feral and wanting the kill...the hunt. Which is why any good werewolf would chain themselves up out of danger once a month.”

This was something that Cora had been tempted not to do if she was honest. She had been drawn towards her wolf side more recently and if it wasn’t the pull on her heart when it came to those she pretended not to care for, some days she felt like giving in to her wolf altogether.

“I can look after myself, Vic. So tell me who the vampire was...or is this just a one-way conversation when it comes to being open?...who is your friend they said they would hurt?”

She shot him quite an indignant look just in case he was going to still withhold the information. 

“So he couldn’t have wanted you to die that much then, because he could have just left you without giving his blood. Though you do realise what would have happened if you’d have died while his blood was in your system, yeah?”

The young Hale cocked a brow, thinking if he didn’t know then he really should...just for future reference. 

Wandering by the Bayou || Vic & Cora

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

sarcasticsxtiles:

But you had your Dad, Stiles. That was true. He did have his Dad. He had someone. Cora, she had Derek and then all of the sudden he was pulled away from her too. He swallowed and took a deep breath, while keeping his dark-brown eyes locked with hers, not wanting to break eye contact with her as he needed her to see he was being serious about it all. I got my brother back only to have him taken away again. I had one Christmas with him. That hit him more than he had expected. Christmas was coming up in a couple of months, and the fact that Cora wouldn’t have her brother there, killed him. It was definitely not something he liked to think about. Where would she go? Who would she be with? Maybe he could ask his Dad if they could ask if she could come over and spend Christmas with them? If they found a way to fix this, of course. It takes something from me and I don’t want to live like that. “I get it. I do. But, what are you going to do… Are you never going to let anyone in again?”

Or maybe it was him there was something wrong with. Maybe it was him she didn’t want. Stiles shook his head, pushing the absurd thoughts to the back of his head. It wasn’t what was important right now, though of course they were lingering in the back of his head the whole time. What Cora was telling him, it was her being very open and honest with him and honestly, the topic of their conversation felt real and like they had been when they had first started hanging out. Before Derek’s death. Before everything changed. He could see her swallow when he had told her that he trusted her, but it was the truth. Stiles didn’t trust a hell of a lot of people, that much was pretty obvious but Cora was different. People make out they care, Stiles! and when it comes to it, you see who really cares and who doesn’t and it isn’t as many as you think! “Well, fuck them, then. Push those people away, Cora, I… Just don’t push the people who do care about you away because you’re scared.” He knew his words were harsh, but he needed her to understand. He needed her to get it.  

I know you care. I do. Stiles let a breath that, he hadn’t known he had been keeping in, out when she said that she knew he cared about her. He had always cared and he also felt like it had been shown pretty well, too. I daren’t not be alone. Narrowing his eyes, he couldn’t help but have a feeling that there were more to what Cora was saying. There had to be more to what she had experienced; more than Derek’s death. When Cora didn’t pull her hand away straight away, he couldn’t help but feel like maybe it was a little bit of a victory, in a sense of the word. You don’t know what you’re doing. You don’t know what you are setting yourself up for. “And I don’t care,” he spoke. People get hurt around me. I keep trying to damn well warn you and yet you refuse to listen to me. “because I don’t care what happens to me,” he spoke again, the words strong and were carried through with confidence as he meant every single world. 

You said you trusted me, right? He had a feeling he knew what would come next and he definitely didn’t like it. Well, trust me when I tell you that us being together will bring us both pain! Stiles sighed and swallowed against the lump in his throat and for the first time, Stiles looked away from her gaze and on the ground. Honestly, he didn’t quite know what to say to that. He, for the first time, was at a loss for words. That wasn’t something that happened very often, that’s for sure. When his lips touched hers though, he could feel her kiss him back, although it was just for a split second, but he felt it. He felt the pressure. 

Suddenly, the young female pushed him away, and she pushed hard, making him stumble backwards. What the hell do you think you are doing? You honestly think that was a good thing to do? He parted his lips to speak, and he had a bit of a typical Stiles answer but the look on her face made him pull that back and to the back of his head instead. He was about to talk, when suddenly he felt her hand slam against his face, knocking air out of his lungs for a second; completely catching him off guard. Don’t you dare do that again! Stiles’ hand went to his cheek and he turned his head to look at her, a hurt look in his brown eyes. She went to hit him again, but she stopped and he could see the tremble of her hand. Y-You hear me? Are you listening? Was he? Was he listening right now? Honestly? No.

His cheek felt like it was on fire. As if someone had put a lighter up against his cheek, in the pure intention of leaving a mark. Stiles swallowed thickly and he let his hand slowly drop to the side of his waist and he knew he was going to get a bruise on his cheek because of the impact from Cora’s hand. Seeing the tears in Cora’s eyes killed him though. I will get you killed! Anyone who cares for me… Anyone who loves me, they will all die! Stiles blinked and looked down at the ground as she spoke about what she saw when she closed her eyes at night. I loved him, Stiles! I have nothing left to give anyone anymore. Because it all hurts so much. Pressing his lips together, Stiles was still at a loss for words. He stood in silence, trying to get his thoughts sorted. 

He stepped back and as he spoke, his voice cracked, 

“Okay.” 

Cora never liked the way people had started to look at her since losing Derek. It was almost as if they pitied her--unsure what to say and do. Some who she had only seen in passing, would deliberately not make eye contact because they just didn’t know what to say to her. Yet people expected her to return to normal when they didn’t offer some normality?

--Stiles never did any of that though. He showed something in his eyes which scared her--something that always had the young Hale backing away from her real feelings. She didn’t scare easily and it was quite ironic that what petrified her was her emotions sometimes. 

Yet she could see that he was at a loss for words and it wasn’t something she knew what to do with. Stiles usually had an answer for everything and all the silence did was make her wonder if she’d hurt him without actually meaning to this time. So when he did finally speak, she pulled her attention to what he was saying and kept her visual on him. 

“The way I feel at the moment?....possibly I won’t.”

She’d successfully shut out quite a few people lately, so it wasn’t impossible she would continue to not let people in. She was lying though because as much as she tried, the odd one or two had already found a home inside of her and whilst it was easier to not let people in in the first place, it was far more difficult when they had already climbed the wall and passed the finish line. 

“That’s the whole point, Stiles! okay...this is just for instance..but Lydia didn’t have the time of day for me before--she called my looks--bitched about my clothes and really couldn’t stand the sight of me. Derek dies and I demand answers about Jennifer at the school and Lydia comes in and makes out she cares...see?..it’s all bullshit. “

She was fully aware the ones who cared before her brother's death but Cora would have weakened her argument had she stated that. 

Her brow furrowed as she let a small look of confusion and then concern wash over he features. Did he really mean he didn’t care about himself?--because that actually worried her even more. She knew what it felt like to truly not care about her own welfare--but didn’t like hearing him say it about himself. 

“I care what happens to you!.”

She’d blurted it out and the words had left her lips before she’d given herself time to think about it. Ideally, she would have preferred to keep it to herself rather than make an open declaration because it just triggered her feelings for him

--then everything seemed to be plunged into disarray.

Her train of thought was totally derailed and every bit of emotion and feeling that she’d tried to deny was there, came flooding to the surface. Cora lashed out to try and ignore the way her body was trying to betray her but almost immediately as she had done it, regret formed in her eyes and she didn’t know what to do.

Should she continue to attack him but verbally now?--at least then he might finally give up on her. The young Hale couldn’t think straight and she held her head in her hands. She’d hurt him--something she told him she would end up doing and yet it made her feel nauseous. 

“I tried to tell you!...you wouldn’t listen....I have hurt you now and it’s only the beginning....”

One single word, that was what he uttered. Just one single word which people said to agree--but yet also replied with when they had nothing else to respond with. Inside, Cora was falling apart and her stomach twisted so tightly she felt sick. He was the last person she ever wanted to hurt. He was special to her. 

“I-I’m so sorry...I never meant to hurt you...I was scared.....because...” 

She swallowed thickly and the words kept catching in her throat making it hard to force them from her mouth. 

“...because when you kissed me....you made me feel everything I have always felt for you....and all I ever wanted was for you see the good side of me...the happy side!...not the ugly parts...but I guess I failed at that.”

She was tempted to move forwards and touch where she had smacked him, but Cora couldn’t face seeing the possibility of some cower or flinch. 

...she couldn’t bear the thought of him fearing her. 

So the young wolf dropped her gaze, her dark hues looking at the floor and she turned to leave. 

[thexstubbornxhale-blog]

awildcuriosity:

“Oh believe me I know, I’ve dealt with many of those people in my time.” The world today still had a long way to go in terms of acceptance, but it had been even worse twenty years ago. Vic had been ostrichsized more than once due to who and what they were. Even today there people who still believed they didn’t deserve some right, some protections, some familial privileged as others for the crime of loving who they loved. It was a saddening thought they tried not to dwell for too long lest it only make them sad.

“All we can do is try to put ourselves above them and be happy.”

Nothing served to make angry people madder then those they were angry at being happy. Plus, in its own way it was rather satisfying. “Oh? Well I can think of several you must try! There mostly over the top but with catchy tunes and a fair few happy endings.”

“There aren’y enough happy endings in the world right now.”

Vic grinned at her summation and nodded their head, they’d loved the musical and the movie both a great deal. To this day they’d put the movie on to cheer themselves up… they’d all but worn away the disc recently.  

“That’s right. He’s one of a kind and isn’t afraid to let the world know it.” they winked, “Never be ashamed of who you are.”

“And in your case, never be ashamed of what you are.” A wolf was a wonderful thing to be, they were sure.

They raised an eyebrow at her question.

Vic thought back on it before answering, “Once, for a night in my second year of college. It was a friends birthday and I remember very little.” They smirked, “But apparently I rocked the stage in a fabulous sequinned corset and matching floor length dress. I went by Alexandria Blunderbuss that night, she shot kill.” They added wryly before laughing a little, “Though, the only evidence of that is in a very old photo album hidden in the back of my wardrobe.”

“There’s always something to see in someone. Empty people don’t exist. It’s like when people say ‘I’m doing nothing’ of course you are! You’re breathing, thinking, sitting, standing. We’re always doing something and there’s always something to be seen. Even if it isn’t nice.”

They lent forward a little as Cora explained what she could do, utterly enthralled with the information.

“Wooooow,” they said quietly, “That’s so cool!” They cried, “You’d be a great police officer! Though I’m never gonna play poker with you… Can wolves tell if other wolves are lying? Or vampires? Or witches?”  

“Well, you’re not chasing me yet, so no need to worry!” They grinned widely, “And that’s cool too! So, could you smell if someone was cooking real far away? Or track a bad guy down like a sniffer hound? Again, awesome police officer! Or airport security. Or bathroom attendant-” the list went on.

Vic cocked their head, confused a little, “Huh? I wasn’t taking the piss,” They hadn’t been, the question had merit in their mind, “After all if you did then way back when maybe that was how hunters tracked lady werewolves? I imagine hair management was harder back before nair.”

They shrugged, “I’ve already had a vampire smash my head against a doorknob for calling him a bully… the he made me drink his blood.” They made a face, “So no belittling, just honest curiosity. Which reminds me, If a pack of werewolves in human form walked down the street, would they move like a wild pack of wolves do? Oldest sets the pace, then the strong ones, then everyone else, strongest behind and the alpha at the end?” They’d watched a lot of documentaries since they’d been alone in the house so much.

“It tends to be full of them around here...especially in the french quarter.”

Yeah, Cora was having a pop at the vampires. She knew full well that there were others who didn’t believe in fair arguments too, but at this moment in time, she was more than pissed off with the majority of vampires. Granted, she had pissed them off too and happened to have chosen two of the most powerful ones as well--Klaus and Marcel. They were hypocritical though, doing things one way as long as it suited them, but calling her out on certain things when in fact they were just as bad--no, they were far worse. Klaus had actually got under her skin though, she’d started to like him and yet again, she was treated like a fool. The young Hale was angry with herself far more than she was angry with anyone else--excluding Kate Argent and Jennifer Blake--sheer rage engulfed her when it came to both of them.

“I would like to believe that. It’s something we will have to agree to disagree on.”

She didn’t see a way forward at the moment which included her being happy, but there was no real point in trying to change his beliefs so she didn’t argue about it. 

“I’ll pass on the musicals. Not my kind of thing.....would sooner be outdoors anyway than sat watching fictional shit.”

Musicals just sounded far too detached from the real world for her liking. She didn’t much like the idea of someone breaking out into a song to tell the story either. Things to Cora had to look believable, as though you were an outsider looking in on someone's life. Bringing some lyrical tune to the situation wasn’t something she was sure she’d like.

“LIsten...the only reason you have in your favour at the moment is you being who you are and not trying to be something else. You don’t throw your weight around and try and put yourself up there on some pedestal. That’s enough to not have me walking away...but know this, I am definitely not ashamed of what I am, I never will be. The only reason I don’t openly declare what I am to others is because of their primitive responses and their fear of anything different...which often results in my kind being hunted.”

She blinked and looked over at him.

“You are really literal aren’t you....it’s not as though people would look normal by saying, ‘Yes I am doing something...I am breathing...” 

The young wolf gave a soft roll of her eyes and inhaled deeply before letting out a sigh. Though she is taken by surprise a little when he bursts with enthusiastic interest when she mentioned heartbeats.

“Yes. A wolf can tell when another is lying. Though it is possible to learn how to keep your heartbeat steady. Vampires can be tricky. Overall, It all depends how experienced a wolf is to have the ability to detect it and not just mistake it for fear..or anger.”

He was probably right, she’d make a good police officer, but it’s the certain attributes she possessed which would make her a bad one too. Besides, she didn’t really have much faith in the legal system.

“Me not chasing you is subject to change at any given time.”

The young Hale kept her gaze on him and the deadpan expression she sported made it very difficult to tell whether she meant it or not. One thing was for sure, it would test whether he was genuinely interested in chatting or more focused on what was told about werewolves being monsters. Though her face changed when he irritated her.

“It is taking the piss. Do I look like a wolf right now?--no...so therefore, why would hair be a problem?....and when you are referring to the wolf side of me, it’s fur. When I have fur, Vic...the last thing on my mind is getting rid of it. My state of mind then is of a wolf...an animal which relies on instinct....ruthless and feral..hunting to kill..it is a wild animal!...so that is why you are asking me stupid questions and taking the piss.”

The annoyed expression changed slightly and Cora furrowed her brow.

“Which vampire was it and what was his name?”

There were a couple she could think of that would make him lucky to still be alive. 

“Forget the damn questions on wolves for a minute will you!....why would he make you drink his blood?”

She knew why they would usually do that, but it didn’t seem like they had taken it any further, judging by what Vic had said about still being human.

Wandering by the Bayou || Vic & Cora