undergrounds | Happy Birthday, Caroline! [Night of Oct 10]

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Happy Birthday, Caroline! [Night of Oct 10]

1. Getting ready for the party (for Thomas)

To say Caroline was excited about her birthday would be an understatement. Especially because this was one of those important sounding birthdays, twenty-one. Nevermind that she was in the UK now, where the drinking age was eighteen. It was still a big deal, or at least it felt like it.

She'd been trying on clothes for the last fifteen minutes or so, before finally settling a cute black and gold outfit that was sexy but in a more grown-up way.

For a moment, she wondered what her mother would think of it. She smiled sadly at her reflection before turning her focus to the clock. It was about time for Thomas to arrive to do her hair. She couldn't wait to see what he came up with.

2. Get the Party Started (Open)

Caroline had decided on a pool hall in Haringey as the location for the party, since it seemed like a good, neutral place. She'd basically invited everyone she'd met in London, which mainly included some co-workers (the ones who weren't working tonight), neighbours, and a number of vampires who she was fairly confident wouldn't be snacking on the other guests.

All and all, she was fairly satisfied by the turnout. It made her feel like this London life of hers might actually work out for the best. And so she started making the rounds, smiling at each familiar face she saw - and a few unfamiliar ones too because the more, the merrier.

3. Sorry I can't hear you, I'm kind of busy (Open)

The party has been going for awhile when Caroline heard her phone beeping, alerting her to a text message. She froze for a moment when she saw the notification. It was from Stefan.

Of course he would pick today to end the months long silence. She put her phone away without reading the message, then headed over to the bar for another drink. She wasn't sure how many she'd had at this point but after that, she definitely needed another.

[Feel free to join the party even if your character doesn't know Caroline well enough for an invite, everyone's welcome]

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"Dull isn't always a bad thing," Caroline says, thinking about the crazier parts of her life that she could definitely do without. "Plus, how dull can it be if you get to go to this awesome birthday party?"

He chuckled as he ran a brush through her hair, deciding what, exactly, he wanted to do. "Don't worry, I figured as much. Fortunately, my other sisters keep me well practiced in the less geeky stuff."

Getting an idea, he set to work. She'd likely feel his fingers running through her hair, working with it, and bobby pins sliding into place as he began styling her hair to match what he wanted to do.

"I was kept in the dark quite a bit longer than that." He sounded serious for a moment, then, in a lighter tone he added, "But I suppose that's how things go. After all, the whole 'vampire' thing wouldn't be a secret from the rest of the world if there wasn't quite a bit of deception going on, would it?"

He cringed a little. "I...didn't, exactly. My father decided to move us here. I didn't get much say in the matter."

Especially since by 'father' he meant 'sire', so he literally had to go along with anything he said.

Edited 2016-10-27 22:09 (UTC)

Caroline closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling. She'd always liked getting her hair done, especially when it didn't involve any actual work on her part.

"How many sisters do you have?"

"That's true," she agreed. "And it's not like I haven't kept it a secret from enough people. But I try not to, if it's someone I care about. I feel like it usually just gets them put in danger."

"Four," he answered. "So I've had quite a bit of practice with this."

Which he'd imagine should certainly help her be at ease with him handling her hair.

"Yes, you're right, of course." If he'd had any idea he'd been living with a bunch of vampires, he'd have been far more likely to be on his guard. "But then, sometimes it would put the one keeping the secret in danger if they told."

His sire, or step-father, had a strict policy that no one was to tell his future progeny what he had in mind for them. His punishment for breaking this policy, as he'd explained in no uncertain terms, was death.

Caroline nodded. "It's a tough situation and each time is going to be a little different. But I tend to lean towards honesty most of the time."

Wow. As an only child, Caroline can only imagine what that must be like. "Tell me about them?" she asked, figuring it would be a good way to make the time fly by.

She laughed out loud at that.

“True. Thankfully, the company I keep is rarely dull—especially tonight.”

One good thing about dull: it was usually safe. Excitement often had too close of a relationship with trouble. But not tonight. Tonight, had been a good break from routine, and another reason Gwen was grateful for having befriended Caroline.

Caroline looked around, surveying the people who'd come out. Most of the people here she'd met through work or were from her building. And then, of course, there was the supernatural crowd. "It is a pretty interesting group."

“That’s the plan. Although, I’m a little concerned about the area. There have been quite a few reports of attacks there lately.”

She lets that go without further comment. The real reason for the violence isn’t common knowledge outside of the supernatural community, so she figures it best to be vague (not realizing that Nancy is well aware of what’s been going on).

“But I won’t let that stop me from supporting a friend.” She perks up. “And I have to admit, I’m really excited to watch her perform. Almost everyone I know is either a member of law enforcement or works in education like me. Being a night club singer is positively dazzling in comparison.”

“Really?”

Guinevere was both incredulous and intrigued. While she didn’t know Thomas’ true age, he certainly looked old enough to make his own decisions about where to live. Then again, something about the way Thomas presented himself suggested that he also enjoyed the finer things in life. Money--especially family money--could be very persuasive. Perhaps that was why he’d followed along.

“Did he make you an offer you couldn’t refuse?” she teased.

Gwen didn’t actually suspect him of being part of a mafia family, but she couldn’t help using that line given that he came from Chicago, a place with a reputation for breeding gangsters.

"Essentially...yes." She was absolutely correct in thinking he enjoyed the finer things in life. "I might not have wanted to come here, and my father might not be my favorite person, but cutting myself off from him also means cutting myself off from the rest of my family, as well as the family funds."

Because while as his sire, his 'father' might be willing to let him buy whatever he wanted on his dime, that would only remain true for as long as Thomas was doing what he wanted.

Thomas nodded. "I...well, most of the people I spend a lot of time with are already in the know, and among those who don't...well, it would be too dangerous to tell them."

He wanted to tell Inari, but...well, there'd be no way of hiding the fact that she was in the know from the vampire who raised them, and he'd most certainly kill Thomas for foiling his plans. All Thomas could do was keep an eye on her and hope for the best.

"My father...my sire isn't tolerant of that kind of thing."

Caroline could understand that. She remembered how freaked out everyone had been when they found out that Tyler knew what she was. Though ultimately, it had been in everyone's best interest for him to know. They'd needed all the help they could get.

"So you call your sire father?" That was different. Though presumably Thomas had been sired on purpose, unlike Caroline. Plus, the idea of thinking of Damon in any sort of parental role was beyond disturbing.

"Oh."

Her playful mood evaporated in the face of his matter-of-fact response.

"That's...terrible. And terribly unfair." She shook her head. "But I can empathize."

Guinevere's father could never threaten her financial stability. She had her own money: the inheritance from her mother and that which came to her upon Leontes' death. However, there were other family expectations that controlled her actions.

"Where I live is up to me. Who I marry, on the other hand..."

Marriage to a respectable wolf has always been the only family-approved choice on the table.

"If I settle down with the 'wrong' man, I'll likely be disowned by my entire family. I know that's also not fair, but I can't risk losing them by fighting it."

Was it truly can't or simply won't? From where she currently stood, the distinction made no difference.

He continued to work as he spoke. "Inari is my youngest sister, and she's only just turned 18. She's sweet and energetic and extremely innocent, and entirely unaware of the supernatural. My other three sisters are Lara, Natalia, and Elisa and they're...well, none of those things. All my sisters except Inari are vampires, for one thing. And all four of them are good at getting what they want in their own ways. Lara's good at manipulating politics, Natalia has a heavy hand when it comes to brute force, but Elisa's aggressive in her own way, and some people find all the piercings a bit intimidating. And then Inari's just too tiny and adorable to say no to."

Then, finally finishing his work, he stepped back o let her see what he'd done.

"What do you think?"

"Well, technically he is my step father."

Granted, it had been a long time since Lord Raith and his mother were together, and a long time since his mother was even alive, but still. Lord Raith, or at least the vampires under his control, did raise him, and Lord Raith then turned him. It seemed a fitting term.

"No wonder they keep you busy!" Caroline definitely appreciated being an only child, especially in times like this.

She stood up and got close to the mirror, looking at her hair from side to side. "Oh wow, that's incredible!" She turned around to face him, grinning. "Thank you so much, this is perfect."

"Oh. You really do have a complicated family." She might have to take notes in order to keep track of everyone.

"Oh, he doesn't care that much with what I do or who I marry or interact with, as long as I don't get in his way, but he does like to keep an eye on his progeny."

Okay, so that was a term that was more frequently used when talking about individuals a vampire had sired (which was what he was actually talking about here), but Thomas figured it was still somewhat ambiguous. Sort of. Since he didn't know what sorts Caroline had invited, he didn't know if everyone here would know she was a vampire, so he figured it was best to not directly say anything that was too obvious.

"I'm glad to be of service." Especially since this had been kind of fun. "I guess I'll see you at the party, then."

"That I certainly do." He hadn't even gotten into the brother he'd never met, or everything with his mother, who he hadn't seen since the day she gave him her witch's amulet.

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Happy Birthday, Caroline! [Night of Oct 10]

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