Life isn't pretty we all get a little wrecked sometimes

[abetment]

Who: Katherine Pierce, Nyx, Sam Seaborn, Caroline Forbes, and Stefan Salvatore
Where: Around town, noted as the starters go
When: This month (specify times as we go if desired!)
What: Establishing new relationships, finding old ones, and possibly ruining at least one person's days.
Warnings: None as of yet

If we knew then what we do now
For Nyx. In da neighborhood.
[ Katherine Pierce has never forgotten what it was like to have a family. The love she has for her long since dead mama could never be erased, along with the shroud of hope that the woman had been stronger. Patriarchal societies be damned, not all women through the ages let men roll over their wants, the true needs of their family: some women had a voice, but not her mother. Her papa was not a nice man, not a loving person, and she hated the magic he practiced, but he was still her father and in that, knowing he was slaughtered makes her ache. Memories of a daughter she thought dead for centuries, brought up for her by Damon, those weave in among the ones she's always carried for the long lost Nadia.

But as Katherine could admit, she has not felt that depth of the bond of family in countless lifetimes. Her marriage to Damon carries purpose, but not true love (she's come to love him a little bit more recently too, but he doesn't have to believe her.) Stefan's kindnesses amid his downtrodden attitude are certainly nothing like family, even if they're in-laws as per the town's history.

It hits her like a ton of bricks when she spies one her neighbors walking on the sidewalk opposite herself. His name floods into her mind along with a barrage of memories that she can't quite pinpoint as they cascade in. At the core of each screams the connection of a sibling, something she has never known before. A relationship she's observed, so so very much. Hell, she's accused of rending apart the brotherhoods of not one, but two, pairs of brothers. These are memories she knows cannot hold truth, ones containing verbal fights (that meant so much to her at the time, how could he be so judgmental, can't you understand how in love she is?!) to a birthday cake with a set number of candles that she tries to blink away. Katherine Pierce? Has never had a birthday cake, much less when she was little.

Frozen in place, perhaps he's kept on walking and not noticed her expression of shock before she beings to walk sideways across the street.

This, it's a set of memories she should be angry over. She shouldn't accept them. She shouldn't. No. It really... ] Nyx. [ Said loud enough for him to hear, but still low, and one booted foot lifts to rest on the sidewalk, her other still on asphalt. Maybe it won't be the same for him. Maybe he won't even know who she is. She's in dark pants, as close to a skinny fit as she can find in the town's offered fashion choices, dark red top and black leather jacket on. Hair curled to perfection. Eyes locked onto his face.

Why does the thought of something that she's never truly had being taken away hurt so much? Her eyes are expectant, and she's a half second away from wanting to compel him to forget he saw her that day before she dashes away at vampire speed.

Katherine has always wanted love. She knows that family can mean love. And this man, this stranger, who she only just remembered the name of, he's her brother there. And she loves him. ]

We'd hold our hands and take a bow
For Sam. A bar.
[ Is it a night that Damon is taking a shift at the bar? Who knows (Katherine, certainly)?

Either way. She doesn't stalk after her husband in true Katherine Pierce fashion, not every single move anyway. Just enough for her ducks to be in a row. Which, is the reason why she's been a witness to this very handsome guy that Damon's established a friendship with. As for any recognition she's had of his (slightly adorable, what, she's not sorry) face? It hasn't occurred yet, so apparently these false memories have wild dynamics. Her husband remembers him, but she doesn't. Yes, she eavesdrops on conversations. No, she's not sorry.

She spies what he's drinking and orders two, sauntering over, coming in from behind where he sits. Speaking just as her face comes close to the back of his head, wanting her voice to register prominently. Sultrily. ] Funny. That's one of my favorites too. [ Does she mean him or the drink? Well. And she's slipping to sit in the seat next to him, at the bar or a table, whatever his choice would be. Her legs, in tight pants, cross over one another at the knee as she leans minutely closer to him.

A smirk that grows into a small grin. ] It's Sam, isn't it? Small town. [ She sets the glass near the one he already has, taking a sip from her own. Is she intruding? You're...gonna have to tell her if she is. ]

Together we would stand our ground (and fight)
For Caroline. Caroline's house.
[ Katherine rolled her eyes. Flat out, completely, no holding back. She rolled her eyes when Damon had the nerve to suggest that she go over to 'check on Caroline.'

Why? She can take care of herself. She's a VAMPIRE, Damon, remember? Yes, Katherine, they all remember that aspect of Caroline's life.

Then again, there are allies in larger groups. Ones that are familiar with what they are, their actual histories (or, well, she's not sure how much Blondie's actually recalled yet?) It's with a grudging sigh that she agrees, taking nothing other than herself (dressed as well as one can in the 90s, and her cell phone. Yes, she'll play it cool. No she won't bluntly state why she's there: she's not stupid, Damon.

Night's close to falling so she dashes off to Caroline's house, a surge of annoyance that literally everyone else in Casa de Salvatore had other more pressing priorities. Haven't they been there long enough that check-ins are a little outdated, too? Ugh.

Approaching, she steps up to the front door, turning the doorknob and letting it swing open. R u d e. ]

Knock knock. [ A beat. ] Caroline. [ She calls out, certainly the voice that a Caroline at home (is she home? maybe she has a life) wants to hear. That's. You're the worst, Katherine. This is part of the reason why it's easy to keep hating you, for almost everyone from Mystic Falls. ] I forgot to bring cookies, but... [ like as a nice neighborly gift -- she, at least, doesn't step further into the house? Her lips purse down as she shrugs, peering inside, listening for the homeowner who she's intruding upon. Er, checking up on. Is that even better? ]

I still wear your t-shirt out; all the ink is faded now
For Stefan. At the high school.
[ Why hide it? Katherine's there to check out where Stefan might be within this newest environment he's brought into his life. Color her slightly put out, too: determining what Stefan might do three steps ahead of schedule has always been a special skill of hers. He's...different, there. A lot like Damon's different, actually.

Elena Gilbert, what did your influence do to these boys?

She's not surprised, so much, that Stefan integrates more into the little society they have there. It's smart. They all need to, plan to, find ways to do so. Still, there's an air of mystery attached to his quality of mopey behavior. It stems from more than just being brought to the weird town. Is Katherine respectful enough that she doesn't press? Uh. No. For a place that doesn't have twenty different special events quarterly, she's been busy since her memories came back. Katherine wants to know more, and more, about the people around them. Home life's been reserved for everyone being calm enough to keep a sincere peace, along with discussions applicable to their life in the Pines.

Respect for his space? No. Katherine's been wanting to ask what his deal is for awhile now. She didn't want to ask with Damon right there, at home, eavesdropping (she likes moments alone with Stefan, no surprise.) The garage thus, also, not a good spot. In truth, she knows that anyone could listen in on any public conversation she manages to rustle up from him, but she's taking that risk.

He must be somewhere at the school, since she's already checked the garage, right? Where Damon asked her what she wanted and for once, she could tell him literally nothing from him. At first, she walks through the hallways, boots clicking along the floor, looking for that familiar form, that head of hair. There wasn't even a security person at the front entrance for visitors to check in -- all's safe in the education systems around those parts, it seems. ]

Comments

[fidelis]

[ Oh. Oh dear.

That was one hell of an entrance.

And she bought him a drink. Another drink, his drink, and he feels the tables so thoroughly turned on the approach-in-a-bar dynamic that he barely knows what to say. He doesn't remember her, not yet, and he has the stupid thought that he would remember a face like hers.

She's devastatingly confident for someone so young.

(The way she greets him means this is safe, right? She's not a student. Not a former student. She says hello like she's reacquainting herself with someone met in brief. Oh, Lord, let her not be a former student.)

He touches his old glass, then the new one, mind scrambling between the glass half-full and the full-full while he formulates a response. ]

I'm sorry, you'll have to refresh my memory, miss--?

[ Wince. Internal cringe. That was terrible. ]

[abetment]

[ Were you ever her teacher? She can't remember, but you'd better believe her presence in classes was always strong.

Watching as he decides (awkwardly, but she bets there's confidence under that initial first impression), her lips twitch into an amused smile. Soft, barely there, but she only works to subdue it rather than write it off completely. ]

Katherine. Salvatore. Formerly Pierce. [ Another sip, eyes sliding away to scan away from where they sit before going right back to meeting his. ] I believe I saw you talking to my husband, actually. I thought I should introduce, reintroduce [ her brows furrow, head tilting in question ] myself. [ One can never tell what someone's personality will be like until they start to get to know them, and while Katherine has flirty motives, she also has no intentions of ever hiding her marriage. It's so complicated, anyway, as anyone in town who knows them could tell you, even if they're not aware of the open nature of it. ]

How's your day going? I hope they got your drink right? [ A light nod to the glass. She knows they did. ]

[fidelis]

[ Oh. Oh. This is safe territory. She's Damon's wife. Friend by association. Sam relaxes and, context having been acquired, decides to start on the drink she brought for the sake of politeness.

A sip, a smile. ] Yes they did. Thank you, by the way, you didn't have to do that. Next one's on me.

[abetment]

[ Oh, Sam. You beautiful tropical fish, you. Her brows pop in acknowledgement, approval, that his drink is correct.

Her features blend into a soft expression, one of dismissing that final notion, hand giving a brief wave through the air. Until one shoulder pops in a slow shrug, smirk settling onto her lips. ] Well, only if you want to. It's not necessary. But. You're welcome.

It seems like it's livened up here lately. [ A nod around them, indicating the bar. Whether that's true or not is up for deliberation. ] Have you been coming in more? [ Her lips twitch into a warmer smile, head turning just so. Are you sure it's safe territory, Sam? ]

[fidelis]

[ He sips from his drink as he looks around the bar, trying to gauge whether things have changed, unable to find any framework for comparison. ] Has it? I haven't... remembered, that much, yet. I know that I come here, I know that Damon comes with me more often than not, but it's funny, I can't remember who else does. You'd think regulars would recognize regulars but no, apparently that hasn't come back to me yet.

[ Another, deeper sip to clear his throat, and he catches that look and -- exasperated with himself, exasperated with the sudden knowledge of himself -- says no, it is not what he thinks it is. It's just Katherine. It must be.

I can never tell if they're looking or not, he thinks, but it has the odd echo-feeling of something he's said to someone else. He can't picture their face, but Damon, maybe? It was in a bar-- It must have been Damon, lord knows the man has pushed him to try and date often enough. ]

Accident. [ Sam gestures at himself, by way of explanation. ] Sort of like the common cold around here, it seems.

[abetment]

[ And that the two of them might recognize each other with some of these 'memories,' given both having relationships with Damon. Then again, Katherine and Jiaying didn't recall one another. What's this town's dealio? She nods. ] One would think that. Maybe it'll come back for this, though? [ A small grin. Memories of knowing each other, of course!

The want to forge ahead and see how the dynamic between them could grow is only egged on by the reactions that Sam has to her presence, her choice of actions. Usually, she likes a bit more confidence in the men she views as impressionable, but he's hot. She can be shallow. Oops? Plus. Backing down isn't in her blood.

Her brows lift quite high when he speaks again, herself sipping idly from the glass she still holds. She takes the words as his reasoning for acting how he is; which, isn't wildly nervous, but there's an edge of awkward there. ] True. Funny how there isn't a fix-all for the accidents some of us endure too, huh? [ Watch out, she's about to get bold. Just, in a slightly different way. Holding eye contact, she leans over the table, closer to him. ] Have you ever met the sheriff? Asked him if he's been in one of these...accidents? [ Katherine Pierce. Tsk, tsk. ]

[fidelis]

[ He's not imagining this. He's definitely not imagining this. The way his eyes change is like watching someone draw a curtain. Feelings swept into the shade, leaving empty, steady blue. ]

I haven't, Misses Salvatore.

[ It's a very deliberate choice. ]

5000 years later...

[sirnyxalot]

[Nyx never forgot his sister. Even after waking up in the hospital without even his name, he still remembered her. It took a little while to remember why she wasn't around anymore. To hear her screaming in his dreams again.

To remember that he'd failed her.

It's almost a comfortable nightmare anymore. Something familiar in the midst of the sea of memories he's getting back every day. Any time he lets his thoughts drift just a little too far back, she's there. Grounding him, though he'd be hard pressed to try and explain how to anyone else looking in.

He almost doesn't notice when new memories filter in. He's walking down the street with a book open in front of him, heading home from the gym. Doesn't even notice anyone else on the street at first, beyond the distant acknowledgment that he can hear someone else's footsteps. It's not until she says his name that he looks up and really understands what he's remembering.

They're not the same. Selena looked like their mother, but this woman, Katherine, doesn't share quite the same face. Beyond hair colour he couldn't even say they were actually related. It doesn't stop the emotion from suckerpunching him in the sternum, however. Memories of hoisting another little girl over his shoulders, tickling her ribs. Watching her face light up as she opens whatever gift he's brought her from overseas.

A deep curl of irritation and dislike for her boyfriend. Husband, a voice in his head whispers. They're married.

Nyx can't keep complete hold of his emotions. There's devastation followed by a deliberate shut down of his expression that looks too vulnerable to be believable. He doesn't quite drop his book, but his arm slowly falls to his side as he studies her.

He will never be able to describe how much he hates this place and what it can do to him.]

Kath...

[He takes a step forward. Wants to hug her until the aches in his heart eases, but can't quite wrap his head around how real this feels.]

[abetment]

[ Gifts from her big brother were always the best: even better than the ones boyfriends, her husband, have given her. Trinkets or something more substantial, it's being special enough for him to take the time to find something for her, to have her elder sibling return home, time and again. Is there a greater joy as a child?

When he begins to say her name, cutting off like that as if it's some sort of nickname without any of the heavily toned cynicism everyone else always carries when speaking to her, Katherine's face tilts down. A greater wash of Nyx being a good, no great, brother goes over her, and it's almost too much to take.

In that moment, the Katherine that Katerina, the human girl from 15th century Bulgaria, could've been pours out. Cutting off and compartmentalizing emotions tied to romantic love is one thing, but this? The love for a brother? She can't process it.

So, she wastes no time in moving forward, cementing her place on the sidewalk by bringing her other foot up and approaching him. Looking into his face for a second before she reaches out to start hugging him, sure in the action, touch confident and unwavering as her arms slide to wrap around him.

They both must know it's not real, right? That doesn't stop her from wanting to do it, to feel the warmth of his arms around her. Katherine has always craved simplicity, and she's never had it, never been able to. Under the masks she's worn over all her years on the planet, there's still that human girl. What could come of this, then; they'll both find out what's in store. ]

[sirnyxalot]

[Damn.

Nyx abandons the book when she reaches for him. Just lets it drop to the sidewalk so he can gather her into his arms and hug her tightly as if to shield her from whatever problems she might have to face. There's a surge of grief as the vulnerable, hurt part of him deeply wishes this were another young woman, and he closes his eyes against it.

She's not her, but the emotion is still real. Nyx adds another name to the list of people from this place that he knows he won't be able to let go of. He's so screwed, but you know what? He doesn't care. Not when he has family here. Right now.

Nyx exhales slowly, thinking back. Katherine. She was so young when he first enlisted. Young and bright and the beacon that drew him home again and again. His reason to keep going in this false history that conflicts more and more with the memories of his life in Lucis.]

[abetment]

[ She hears the book drop with a thud, falling against Nyx for a few long moments until she finds her posture again. Existing there, in an embrace that's quickly magnified by innumerable hugs from the past. She has no one to compare to him to, other than the longing she's always had for family. Hers, after all, was taken from her so early in life. At eighteen, but what is an eighteen year old other than still a child? Katherine certainly is not a child any longer, but she's never been one to shut her emotions, feelings, off and lock them away. Katherine feels, and she feels hard.

She realizes with a swallow that she's clutched the fabric of his shirt, slowly letting go, pulling away, looking into his face. Another memory works its way in: are they this frequent when it's someone you love so much? ] I didn't know if you were back yet. I mean. [ She peers down onto the sidewalk, emotion rising in her throat and catching. She's confusing the periods of time, how many times she cried, begged her brother to stay because there's nothing more important than family. He should've been there, through her life, the whole time. ] We can...we should go, find someplace, inside. To talk. Not out here.

[ She's still right there, one hand resting on his chest as she finally draws it away too, glancing off toward the row of houses on the other side of the street. ] My house, or yours? [ Because whatever plans they had lined up right then and there, this is more important, isn't it? There's no walking away from this. ]

[sirnyxalot]

[It's hard to let her go, and he leaves a hand on her arm as she steps back. He remembers her crying as he left on his last tour and guilt twists in his stomach at her words. He should have looked for her when he woke up.

You didn't know her when you woke up. You didn't know her this morning.

Nyx follows her glance to the houses. Already abandoning any other plans he had for the evening.]

Mine's not far. Just the next block over.

[It wouldn't give them much more privacy, if his house is as watched as Steve's was, but he doesn't care about their rules. This is family. He'd break every single one of them just to have one again.]

[abetment]

[ Memory association through the visual cue of actually seeing the other person has to be the key that unlocks these doors. Knowing she hasn't been privy to the knowledge of how much she, no her false self, cares for Nyx? It's agitating, and her eyes turn dark here and there, emotions threatening to drown her.

They didn't know one another from Adam or Eve even ten minutes prior. This. Town.

Lips moving slightly, together, tongue almost darting out, Katherine nods. ] Okay. Yours. [ She gives another look away then back to Nyx, meeting those eyes.

Why are your eyes a different color than mine? she recalls asking, thinking his were better, no higher than three and a half feet tall. Genetics is the answer, but what does a six year old hear? mishear? she twisted a face over at him, moving to kneel in the grass of the backyard of their family house. POW, a slap over his arm. I'm not pathetic! Maybe he was about to say more in his answer too, all those years ago, but Katherine's always been dramatic...

She's not sure she can ever look at biology or crocuses again. Their yard was spotted with the latter that day.

While she meant to wait for him to make a move toward his house, she takes one step forward, face creasing with a concern only after she lets her back turn to him. She forces that concern off her face. Feeling all of it, too many memories that bear no resemblance to anything she's ever experienced herself, it's too much. How does anyone process this?? ] I'll follow you there.

[sirnyxalot]

[He reluctantly lets her go to step around her, rubbing his hands over his hair in an attempt to gather his thoughts. This town is dangerous and it keeps lulling him into forgetting that. He's not sure they're going to get the result they want if memories like this keep appearing.

He'd burn this whole place down to keep Katherine and Jack safe. They're not all he has, anymore, but between all the connections he's made so far they're the tightest, despite this most recent one being only ten minutes old.

The people running this town probably have no idea what it means to have a sister again. Nyx draws in a deep breath, glancing back over his shoulder. He tells himself it's to make sure she's still there, but in reality he can't stop looking at her. Seeing how much she's grown since he saw her last. They drifted a little bit, in recent years? He remembers arguing about her boyfriend. He didn't approve of her choices, didn't think this guy was even worth her time. She was better than this.

Nyx is lost in it for a moment. Remembering.]

[coy]

[ Caroline would be just as annoyed that Damon had Katherine of all people check up on her. Katherine was on her shit list, in fact, Katherine was quite literally dead to Caroline.

So when she just barges into Caroline's house without an invitation or even so much as a knock on the door, Caroline's pretty annoyed. Sorry Katherine, Caroline can be the queen of holding grudges (even if she's weirdly selective about it). And while she'd felt a tiny bit sorry about Katherine dying the first time, possessing her best friend's body with the intent to steal it was the final push into eternal hatred from Caroline. She didn't remember all the circumstances but she remembered enough.]

Oh sure, just come right in, Katherine. [ She heaves herself off the couch, tossing her book aside as she makes her way from the living room towards the foyer. With her arms cross over her chest, she looks at Katherine.] What are you doing here?

[abetment]

[ Katherine's norm is to be hated, but being hated for things that she hasn't even done yet? It's a little overkill, isn't it? Either way, she's done enough to Caroline for the blonde to loathe her forever. And that's okay.

One hand waves out, head giving a rolling sort of shake as she glances up with her first few words. ] Oh, I don't know. Would you believe I came over for a little girl time. A sleepover? Manicures? [ If she didn't continue that rudeness of hers, something would seem off; everything's mostly fine for her too. Other than being there.

She maintains eye contact with Caroline, tone turning more serious. ] I thought it was time we talk, just the two of us. So you can get a little more of that...pent up anger out. Not that it's that pent up, huh, Care? [ Her nose scrunches a tiny bit. ] We don't need to be enemies here, Caroline. It would be better if we weren't.

WOW DW NEVER SENT ME THIS NOTIF

[coy]

[ Caroline cannot look more skeptical than she does now, as Katherine puts on the pretense of being a girlfriend. And her eyes narrow because she doesn't believe this for one second and it smells like something a Salvatore would have dreamed up, that or Katherine wanted something more than what she was letting on.]

Why would I ever trust you? Or this whole 'why can't we be friends' act?

dammit DW, how RUDE!!

[abetment]

[ No one could blame her for spinning this check-in into something else. She takes a few steps here and there, looking over Caroline's dwelling, acting like, well, herself. No respect for someone else's space. But, she does turn back to make eye contact when she speaks! ]

I believe what I said is that it would be better if we were. Aren't you big on reaching out, trying new things. Or, something. [ A light roll of her eyes. What a way to be 'nice' to someone, huh? ] Wouldn't you rather have more allies than less? Basic math, Caroline. [ ... ] Some people get it. [ Stefan and Damon! Or, they're doing a grand job of putting up with an alliance they all know might shatter if given the proper breaking point. ]

[immoderation]

[ The plan is to divide and conquer; for each of them to try and integrate into some facet of town life, gaining allies among their fellow transplants and further ingratiating themselves with the locals for the sake of obtaining information about this strange new place and the secrets it's clearly hiding behind flower beds and white picket fences.

Stefan doesn't have the time to fully devote himself to teaching; there's still the family business that he's largely in charge of maintaining, even with Damon and Bucky's assistance. But his evenings are largely free. So one thing leads to another and now he's in charge of managing the high school's track team with the offer of coaching the football team once the next season is scheduled to start up again.

She'll eventually find him in a little office near the gymnasium, paging through a dusty old play book that was apparently left behind by his predecessor.

Of course, he hears her approaching long before the door ever opens -- the click clack of her heels all too familiar these days. ]

Katherine.

[ His tone of voice is dry but he doesn't sound altogether annoyed to see her standing theere. ]

To what do I owe the pleasure?

[abetment]

[ There are still small victories in tracking down one of the brothers when she isn't completely sure where they might be. Yet, her steps took her toward the gymnasium, pulled there slightly more by some tug of nostalgia that she pushes down.

Stepping right up to the door and going in, posture and air typical of herself. Smiling at Stefan, pleased to have located him and with his choice of words, she's not surprised to hear his tone. That, in fact, seems kind of typical for him lately. ] Stefan. [ She stands beside a filing cabinet, looking over to him. ] Isn't it obvious? I wanted to see what kind of setup you've got going here. [ Clearly amused with herself, expression soft all the same, she peers all around the office. ] I've seen worse, for those teaching in public education.

[ Her brows knit, question clearly about to be presented as she steps forward, putting herself next to where he sits at the desk, leaning back against it. ] Could they even call it that, though? I mean, it is free. At least, it was when we went here. [ Wasn't it? Does she even care? Is she talking just to talk? She smiles, some secret that's nonexistent radiating in her eyes, as if they share something special.

She reaches one hand behind herself to draw small circles on the top of the desk's surface. ] Do you bring meals in here? Eat...all alone? [ You should never have to be alone, Stefan! ]

[immoderation]

[ Not that he would ever admit it out loud but there's something almost comforting about Katherine's presence here with them in the town of Wayward Pines. There's just something so constant about her personality that manages to have an almost grounding effect. It seems the more things change, the more she manages to stay the same. It's almost impressive, really, how unruffled by everything she can appear to be. ]

Sometimes. [ He eyes her, slightly wary as she moves even closer but willing to indulge her in a bit of idle conversation. ] If my booth at Lagomarcino's is taken.

... Normally I won't be coming here so early in the day, practice isn't until after school hours. But the principal asked me to come in for a faculty meeting but that didn't take too long so now I'm just killing time.

[abetment]

[ Meanwhile, the longer they're there, the more that Katherine feels the tug of fake yet strong memories pulling her toward caring about new people. And as Stefan knows, even if she's not aware of it yet, he knows that Katherine's capable of love. She's always wanted bonds with people, tried to force one out of Stefan once she returned to Mystic Falls.

Meeting people she's started to care about, through memories that should be examined very closely to analyze who can actually be an ally or not, maybe this newer advent in her life has drawn her to wanting to be closer to Stefan. Again. As if she's ever stopped.

If she's a constant to him, why not? A bond only makes sense.

She hums at his answer, rocking on her heels a tiny bit, looking over when Stefan goes on. ] So you've met all the other teachers? Oh, Stefan. Didn't you know -- those kids, they just wanna be left alone. [ She winks, apparently in good spirits, musical reference, rephrased, blending right on in. ] Maybe we could kill time together, then. Take a walk, maybe. The backyard here's...really pretty. [ Walks with Katherine Pierce always end well. ] Unless musty old gym office is your new go-to spot.

[immoderation]

[ He hasn't made too many connections yet, as it were. But the ones he has gnaw away at him. Honestly, he's been a bit selfish in that regard, the thought of Katherine's life here (outside her marriage to Damon) never really crossing his mind to think about all that much in depth.

He's normally more perceptive about these things but then he hasn't spent a lot of one on one time with her, typically being very avoidant which is most likely why she's had to go out of her way to track him down like this.

Stefan rolls his eyes a bit but feels his mood inexplicably lightening though he'd be loathe to tell her as much. Still, his brows furrow as he makes a show out of considering her offer. ]

I guess some fresh air wouldn't hurt.

[abetment]

[ If Katherine has her way that day, details purely about herself won't be what they discuss.

Any negative flare from Stefan never sets Katherine back; she expects moodiness from both of the brothers. Vampires have penchants for mood swings, letting their emotions roar out freely, especially around other vampires they've known for a long time.

Her brows lift a hair as she watches the expression on his face, her own twisting as if to suggest she's considering right along with him. Then, a beaming smile. ]

Perfect. I know just the path. [ A location that surged up in both she and Damon's minds when they recalled the 'memories' of their engagement. It's where he proposed, and she's been out there once or twice. It's a pretty spot, okay? She's no liar. Head nodding to the door, she moves to start leading him out.

As they go, she stares out over the walls, path to take them to an exterior door not far off at all. ] Is it...ever like you were just here yesterday, as a student again, when you're walking through the halls? [ Asked as a way for her to see if he's had any high school 'memories' blossom. There's no wrong or right answer: not everyone is nostalgic. ]

[immoderation]

[ They're moving through an area that is probably heavily infested with cameras so Stefan knows that he has to be more careful about what, or at least how, he says things. ]

I still don't remember all that much from "before the accident." Sometimes... It's like I catch these little glimpses of that life growing up here. Not always something solid. But I do remember. The first time I came here to the school talk to the principal about becoming a coach. I walked by the trophy case and I just knew if I looked inside I'd find my name on one of them.

[ The star quarterback. He'd made varsity even as a sophomore. In his senior year, he'd been made captain and helped lead the team to victory in the state championship. ]