Who: Rebekah and Alyssa What: Alyssa’s reappearance Where: Verdant When: the evening of the 10th Warnings: Low Status: closed/g-doc Alyssa closed her eyes, nestled next to Morpheus as the two fell asleep. Their children slept down the hall and Alyssa’s heart felt completely full. Ruling Wonderland felt easier after all the time she’d spent here.
A moment later she opened her eyes, no longer feeling Morpheus’s body next to hers in a strange bed. This room. Where was she? The room seemed oddly familiar and she sat up from her empty bed. The art on the wall looked like something from her human life, a collage from a Wonderland memory. “I don’t think I’m in Wonderland anymore,” she mused out loud.
But then her eyes fell on a painting. The artist hadn’t yet completed the work. The almost-finished face reminded her of Morpheus in that it was lovely, wild, and dangerous as fuck. And then memories assaulted her brain: a boy who wore someone else’s face, before he returned wearing his own face. The face staring at her from the easel. Had he meant something to her? There had been ecstasy at an orgy, battling a life-size Darth Vador, a battle in Narnia, the people in this house. She’d shown and sold art here, gotten a promotion at work. A boyfriend had been here and sent back home to his death. Jason, she thought, but without certainty after a decade.
But mostly she recalled friends. Liz, whose boyfriend’s girlfriend arrived. Ned and Peter, her surrogate bros. Scott who felt like an uncle. Leo who taught her how to use a sword. Rachel, who she’d kind of been seeing. Others, as their faces floated in and out of her brain before it settled on Kate. Kate who she cried to when both of their boyfriends left. Who had let Alyssa paint her as a wolf during a Full Moon. Kate, whose boyfriend returned and had no memories right before Alyssa got sent home.
The face in the painting called to another individual. Bex. The vampire who looked out for her and treated her like a little sister. And Alyssa found she wanted to talk to Bex. Thankfully she found her phone, charging in the wall. The date…when had she left? Had she only been gone a week?
A moment later she posted on the network to let everyone know she was back, before she texted Bex specifically. “Can we go get drinks at Verdant?” Bex wouldn’t expect anything from her. And she didn’t have the bandwidth to deal with anyone else yet. Kate would be a close second, but Alyssa knew she wouldn’t be a good friend until she got a better grip on everything. At the last second she took a picture of the painting, something telling her Bex might help solve the ‘who’ mystery if nothing else.
She located a dress that she could easily throw on, which held space for her wings. In Wonderland, she’d never hidden her Netherling markings and it didn’t occur to her to do so now. Unfortunately, human rules about the legal age for drinking slipped her mind, and while she may have spent a decade in Wonderland, she hadn’t aged and still looked like the teenager who left.
Like all of those close to Alyssa, Rebekah was aware the young woman had made a return home. At least all of her things remained in Madison Valley which meant she would come back, but, of course, no one knew when that would be. It was one of the more troubling aspects of Madison Valley; the unpredictability of who could show up and who could leave. Rebekah hoped her friend was safe and happy in her world; the blond vampire did look at Alyssa like the baby sister she never had. She was also rather protective and, in this situation, she could do little else, but hope Alyssa came back okay.
Rebekah was at home, wrapped in a cushy robe, when she received the text on her phone from Alyssa. Her first reaction was joy because she was happy to have the young woman back, but the other was worry too. What had Alyssa been through back home? The thoughts swirled in Rebekah’s mind as sent a return text, agreeing to meet the artist at Verdant for drinks. Though Alyssa was underage, Rebekah could easily compel the bartender to give her a drink or two. It wasn’t a problem and harmless fun. Besides, Alyssa might need it after everything back home.
Putting on fashion clothing and a pair of boots, Rebekah made her way to Verdant, using her vampire speed to quicken her arrival. She was eager to see Alyssa and assess for herself that the young woman was alright. Settling at the bar, Rebekah sent a text to let her friend know she was inside and waiting for her. Her eyes remained trained on the door and she held off indulging in her bourbon until the young woman appeared.
She paid no attention to the people who stared as she walked, unaware that she didn’t usually walk with her butterfly wings out in the open and her netherling markings so easy to see. Her skin glittered. Alyssa walked lost in thought as she tried to piece together everything. Being in Wonderland played with her memory. While she felt certain of some things, like a friendship with Bex and Kate, other things felt like a dream. Like, why she took E, and who her boyfriend had been. While she couldn’t be sure, Alyssa thought the boyfriend she struggled to remember wasn’t the person in her painting. No, the boy in the painting was whiskey at a punk show. Ripped clothes and fire. Jason, if she remembered his name correctly, was fresh flowers in a meadow. Sunshine after a storm passed.
Alyssa’s phone beeped and she read how Bex was already at Verdant, which thankfully took her out of her mind. Why was she focusing on boys in this world instead of important things? Partly because the painting meant something to the girl she’d been previously. And Alyssa realized she struggled to fully remember that girl. Her wings lifted her off the ground and the butterfly pattern fluttered as she used them to fly to the door. When she landed she took a deep breath. This still felt like some weird dream.
But then she walked into the bar and saw her friend. Alyssa hadn’t remembered this place back home, but how much she’d missed Bex flooded her mind. When she got to her blonde friend, Alyssa greeted her and hugged her. “I’m so glad to see you.”
Rebekah smelled Alyssa before she spoke up. Turning, the blond vampire’s gaze fell on her friend and her eyes widened slightly. Alyssa had wings and markings all over her body; her skin glittered, and the color was even more visible under the bright lights of the club. While she knew Alyssa didn’t mind being different or promoting those differences, she highly doubted she would walk about with her wings out and telltale signs of her origin all over her body. That was like Rebekah walking around with her “true face” exposed to the world. Of course, Alyssa’s true form was far more beautiful that Rebekah’s monstrous one. In any case, Rebekah stood immediately and when Alyssa hugged her, she returned it tightly (obviously not too tight given her vampire strength). “Ditto, darling.” Rebekah stepped back and cupped Alyssa’s face before her hands moved down to the young woman’s shoulders as blue eyes scanned her for any harm, but there wasn’t any. Alyssa looked the same albeit for something in her eyes that told Rebekah otherwise. Releasing her briefly, Rebekah moved to put an arm around her shoulders and guide her to the stool beside her at the bar. She only briefly released her to claim her own seat again, but hand remained on the young woman’s forearm protectively. “What do you want to drink? I’ll have them make whatever you want,” Rebekah assured her quickly. “And then we can talk. I know you don’t look much different, but I know something is different. I can feel it. You must tell me, love.”
Alyssa saw her friend’s expression and wondered what caused it. She hadn’t lived amongst humans for a decade and it never occurred to her that her wings and markings were the cause. Her netherling side had taken over Alyssa’s human side and she couldn’t quite recall how to get in touch with her human side at the moment. No, there had been no physical harm back in Wonderland. At least none to her. Alyssa met her friend’s eyes because she understood this was part of Rebekah’s love language. And she found she appreciated the protective touch. Alyssa felt so out of her element right now. What had Alyssa liked to drink? Wine entered her mind, but the wine in Wonderland probably ruined most wine here. She looked at Rebekah’s drink. It looked like something she wouldn’t have back home and so she’d have no comparison, plus it did have a woodsy smokey scent to it. “I’ll have what you’re having.” How to best answer her friend. She considered her words as the bartender fixed her drink. “I think in your time I was only gone a week?” she asked, to be sure she hadn’t miscalculated time. Her words came out hesitantly, as though time didn’t fully mean things to her anymore. At Alyssa’s answer, Rebekah immediately raised a hand and waved over the bartender. She made eye contact, using compulsion to ensure Alyssa got her drink without any questions concerning identification. The blond vampire felt as if Alyssa was just trying to grasp where she was still and the life she had here. Rebekah wanted to make the experience as painless as possible. “You were only gone a week,” Rebekah confirmed. “How long was that for you though? Was it longer?” Rebekah sensed it was longer, but obviously she couldn’t be sure. Alyssa felt older to her despite still looking like her teenager self. Plus, she didn’t hide her wings or her markings from prying eyes. It was if she didn’t think she needed to and the Alyssa she knew would have hidden it from the public. Alyssa’s drink arrived and Rebekah nudged it towards her. “Here, this might help take the edge off a little.” As it was Rebekah took a sip from her own glass; she felt like whatever was going to be told, she would need that alcohol in her system. Alyssa vaguely remembered rules about ages and drinking alcohol, but again it felt far off. She knew though that Bex did something so she could drink without questions. Compulsion she thought, but couldn’t remember for sure. Alyssa took a sip of the drink. The smokiness tasted different and delicious. Fires weren’t a thing in Wonderland and she hadn’t realized how much she missed the smell. And to taste it? This might be her new favourite drink. This time Alyssa took a moment to answer. Time had similar properties in Wonderland, but they didn’t care to keep track of it unless necessary. “I was home for a decade, I think, Bex? I had a son and daughter with my husband.” And multiple lovers, given monogamy didn’t particularly suit either of them, even if they deeply loved each other. “I quashed an uprising. One of my mortal grandchildren found his way to Wonderland.” “I don’t…I remember things from here. People like you, and Kate, and Ned. But I don’t remember her. The girl who I was before. She feels like a dream.” Alyssa pulled out her phone, thankful she still remembered how to use it. “She was painting this. I mean, I was? I guess? I don’t…I can’t place him, only that he made me think of you.” And she passed the phone to her friend. “Do you like it?” Rebekah assumed she did, given the lack of disgust in her expression after she drank it. Bourbon was not for everyone, but it did happen to be the go-to drink of the entire Original family. She could drink other things, but out of habit, she always went for the bourbon. As Alyssa started speaking, Rebekah listened intently, letting her say everything that was on her mind. When she mentioned having children, a family, Rebekah’s heart warmed and she squeezed the young woman’s arm gently. Oh, Rebekah would have loved to meet her children and her grandson. There would always be a part of her that envied someone capable of having children; as a vampire, Rebekah could never have a family like that. She could adopt, but she could not conceive children of her own no matter how much she wished to be a mother. “I would have loved to have met your children and your grandchild,” Rebekah replied sincerely, a smile on her face. “Of course I would have loved to see you kick ass too when squashing that uprising.” Rebekah reached for her glass for a sip. Her time at home didn’t sound so bad. In fact, it sounded wonderful to Rebekah. But then Alyssa was here again and she didn’t remember the girl she was. Not exactly. She knew Rebekah and others that were her friends, but for herself? It was clear that it was a mystery. Rebekah’s smile fell and she patted Alyssa’s arm. “It’ll come back to you, love. Even if it doesn’t, we’ll help you figure it out, alright? I promise.” Rebekah would do everything to help her friend adjust to life here again; the blond vampire considered her as a sister after all. At the mention of a painting, Rebekah reached out and took the phone from her friend. As soon as she saw the face, Rebekah recognized it as her brother, Kol. She passed the phone back to Alyssa and took a drink. “It’s my brother, Kol,” Rebekah answered softly. “I’m not sure when you painted him though or why.” Alyssa smiled at her friend, the first one since she arrived which reached her eyes. “It’s like a bonfire in a cup. I forgot how much I missed bonfires. I think this is my new favourite drink.” She took another sip, but didn’t swallow right away, allowing the liquid to coat her taste buds. “They would have loved you, you know. Their beautiful and loving Aunt Bex,” she said, this time her hand squeezing her friend’s shoulder. Alyssa wished her children had arrived with her. She already missed Muse and Hathor completely. Which called up a faint memory of another teenaged boy, one she’d loved fiercely as she loved her children. “My grandchild liked to visit, but with the uprising it seemed best he didn’t come back. If they managed to dethrone me, he wouldn’t be safe.” Alyssa’s Wonderland children were immortal like her, but the children and grandchildren produced with Jeb were mortal unless they gave up mortality, and Thomas hadn’t wanted to do such a thing. “It was an uprising against my counterpart, the White Queen, but in our world you attack one of us, you attack both of us. The previous Red Queen was so hung up on power, that neither of us wanted a repeat.” They ruled jointly and supported the other. Sure they had little squabbles, but nothing that lasted more than a few days at most. “I wish you could see it. I don’t know many people in this town who would enjoy Wonderland the way I do, except you. And maybe Kate.” Ned would run away screaming. She took a breath and then asked, tentatively, “Would it be okay if I stayed with you for a few days? I can’t be in that room again, at least not yet.” She couldn’t describe it, except right now it felt like she was invading someone’s personal space. Kol. The name brought up a memory, but nothing concrete. Something about butterflies and fires. “At least I know who. And maybe that’s good enough. Do you” she stopped and started again. “Do you think he’d want this? Even if it’s not finished?” Without the feelings the previous Alyssa felt, she didn’t think she’d complete the painting. “If she did care for him, I’m not sure I can find those feelings again to do the painting justice.” And Alyssa didn’t want to create any art which wasn’t 100% hers. And then she winked at her friend. “Were you all this gorgeous before you became vampires?” she laughed, to hide the confusion she felt. The words touched Rebekah deeply. She could not have children despite how desperately she wanted to be a mother. Her time with Hope as an infant would always hold a special place in her heart. It was the first time she’d had a chance to exercise any motherly instinct in all her centuries of existence. Hearing how Alyssa’s children would have loved her pleased Rebekah; she would have loved to be an aunt to them. Dotting and spoiling them as aunts were always meant to do, and, of course, protecting them with the unwanted gift of immortality and vampirism her mother had given her. At least it would not lead to violence and destruction instead. “Perhaps someday I will meet them,” Rebekah replied wistfully. No one knew what Madison Valley was truly capable of and when it would bring to you what you wanted most or desperately hated. So far, it had given Rebekah a mixed bag, but at least she had her family, regardless of how much of a handful they could potentially end up being. The town didn’t have anything to fear from the Mikaelsons; they were bound to destroy themselves long before they ended up releasing death and destruction on Madison Valley. “I am glad to hear you kept your throne, “ she added. “And that your grandson remained safe.” Her relationship with the white queen reminded Rebekah a lot of the relationships between the siblings. They had their spats, their arguments, but when it counted, they were there for one another. A united front of death and destruction, pain, and horror. Always and Forever. That was the vow that united them; when a Mikaelson fell, you could be sure the others would be there to avenge them. Or it should have been. When Kol fell, they hadn’t avenged him; it was why this version remained bitter towards them now. They hadn’t mourned him. They had simply carried on. When Alyssa said she would enjoy Wonderland, Rebekah smiled warmly. “Maybe we will get a portal there and I can visit. I would like to see it.” She meant it too. She’d already seen most of the world in her centuries of life, but Wonderland would be new territory for her and something she would enjoy exploring. It would also help her to understand Alyssa better and Rebekah wanted that. Rebekah took a sip from her bourbon and nodded. Alyssa could stay with her for as long as she wished. Granted, she only had her one bedroom apartment at the moment, but Alyssa was welcome to the bed. “You can stay with me as long as you wish, Alyssa. I don’t mind at all, darling. The place gets rather lonely anyway.” There was a part of her that did miss living with her siblings, but given how Klaus could be a control freak, it was best she didn’t. “And I’m sure he’ll want the painting. Kol has an ego. A girl painting a picture of him, even half finished, will stroke that fire easily,” Rebekah replied bluntly. “If you wish, I can give it to him. I should speak to him anyway.” Kol and her needed to chat, especially if he was going to be a permanent fixture in Madison Valley. There were things he should know and things he needed to do in order to survive here. She knew he would hate some of them, but the truth wasn’t always easy. Rebekah laughed at Alyssa’s words. “How you see us is exactly how we looked the day we were all turned, darling. Trapped forever at these stages of our lives. Kol is only a little older than myself. I’m the youngest.” Alyssa couldn’t imagine a better aunt than Bex, except maybe Jen, but in her timeline Jem had lived her mortal life and died. Bex would accept her children for themselves. Their wildness, their chaos, their high capacity for love and tenderness towards each other and nature. Would Alyssa want a portal to Wonderland? She found herself realizing how much she did. Wonderland wouldn’t be for everyone, but Bex would appreciate it. Maybe Kate. And then they’d understand how much Wonderland had shaped her as a person. “I hope a portal opens. I’d love to show you the things about it I love.” No, Alyssa would happily sleep on the couch. Of course she’d have to visit the house again to grab some clothes and her art supplies, but that was future Alyssa’s problem. “Thank you. I can’t be there right now. I love them all, but they’ll expect their Alyssa and I don’t know if I can produce her.” It all sounded terribly exhausting. She did laugh at how Rebekah stated her brother’s ego. “I don’t remember him, but I could see the ego just from the painting she made.” This time Alyssa didn’t correct herself, not realizing what she said. At the offer, Alyssa considered it. Because how much simpler would her life be if she allowed Bex to hand the painting to her brother? “I feel like I should? She cared about him and it seems disloyal to her if I let you do this, without apologizing for not being that girl.” Alyssa took another sip of her drink and looked down. “I don’t know.” “I wonder if any world has produced a vampire who doesn’t wear a beautiful face.” “Then you can stay with me for a while,” Rebekah reassured her with a gentle smile. “It’s no problem at all. However, do know that your friends and I just want you to be yourself. We love you no matter what, Alyssa.” It would take Alyssa time to adjust to life again here, especially since it sounded as if Wonderland wasn’t much like Madison Valley at all. However long it took, Rebekah would be there to support her friend. If the roles were reversed, she knew Alyssa would be there for her in the same capacity. “And if you want to give it to him, you can. He has an ego, but Kol isn’t bad. He’s just like the rest of us. Slightly damaged.” Rebekah didn’t know how else to describe her family aside from being damaged. Kol was violent and angry because he didn’t feel as if he mattered without the violence. He had a role in the family no matter how bloody and dark it was. Rebekah, on the other hand, simply wanted to be human and to live and die as one. She had a temper and could be just as brutal as her brothers, but she liked to think she wasn’t heartless. At the comment, Rebekah laughed. “If there is such a world, I would love to see what it looks like,” Rebekah responded, shaking her head. “We need the mask, luv. Without it, we are all quite hideous. We are monsters.” Alyssa sat in silence for half a minute. “Thank you.” An idea formed in her head, but again she didn’t speak. Everything felt so overwhelming. Would everyone love her and accept her or would they wish for the Alyssa they already knew and loved? She couldn’t be sure. Finally she offered a smile to Bex. “I saw your expression when I walked in. Surprise, I mean. Why?” Perhaps a bit more blunt than usual, but Alyssa had noticed the wide eyes. “I think,” she stopped and turned over her phone again to look at the picture. “She captured a slight brokenness and vulnerability.” Alyssa returned the phone face down on the bar. “I hope he can find something or someone which makes him happy.” Ironically, Alyssa didn’t even remotely recall the few moments where he’d made Alyssa happy. This time she looked at her friend and her eyes took on an unfamiliar fierceness. “You. Are. Not. A. Monster. You’re Bex. You’re loyal, smart, intelligent, cunning, and the best big sister a girl could hope to have. Plus you do have great fashion sense.” She took a breath and then asked “Would you want to maybe get a house together?” At the question, Rebekah simply gestured towards her wings with a manicured finger. “You’re wings are out, luv. You usually don’t go around like that. Plus your markings are visible and the glitter on your skin. It just surprised me because I am not used to seeing you like that.” Rebekah didn’t hate it of course, but the sight was just startling simply because Alyssa had never done it before in public. However, if she wished to wear her wings out all the time, Rebekah was certainly not going to stop her. She looked beautiful regardless. The words about Kol struck Rebekah and she merely nodded. “I don’t know, darling. It has quite the hole to fill within himself.” A hole his family had helped dig and Rebekah felt awful about all of it. She’d been responsible for Kol being daggered the second time around; he’d been creating a stake that could kill Nik, but it was to defend himself. He was tired of being daggered and thrown into a box. Rebekah couldn’t blame him for it, but she’d betrayed him to Nik all the same. It wasn’t a very sisterly thing to do. When Alyssa spoke so fiercely in her defense, Rebekah smiled and reached out to squeeze Alyssa’s shoulder gently. “That means more to me than you know, Alyssa. And the fashion sense just comes from living through centuries and having to know how to blend in constantly.” The last part was said with a small laugh. It was also difficult for them to remain in any place too long lest people come to realize they didn’t age. Rebekah was mildly surprised at the offer to buy a house together, but she could also understand it. It was clear that Alyssa was not the same one that had departed from Madison Valley a week ago. She probably felt as if she didn’t fit in at the Bug house anymore. The blond vampire was more than okay with sharing a home with Alyssa; her apartment was starting to feel a tad cluttered anyway. “Of course, darling. We’ll get a big house for the two of us. It’ll be wonderful. Like starting a new chapter for both of us.” “Oh.” Alyssa wondered how the other Alyssa could walk around and not acknowledge this side of her. Of course, Alyssa didn’t exactly know how to be human at the moment, so maybe she envied the previous her a bit. “I’m not sure…” Alyssa broke off her sentence, but while she tried to revert to strictly human, she found she couldn’t remember how to do such a thing. This time she looked slightly panicked. “I don’t remember how.” This was followed with Alyssa draining the bourbon. She felt like the bugs she’d trapped, before she killed them. Back when she was human, and before she remembered Wonderland. Somewhere in the back of her mind Morpheus reminded her she was the fucking Red Queen. God she missed him already. And their children. At least she could focus on Bex’s words about her brother. “How lonely he must feel.” If Bex explained to Alyssa what happened, she wouldn’t blame her friend. How awful to make a choice between her two brothers. “I only speak the truth.” Wonderland might deal in hidden truths and lies of omission, but they preferred truths, however unkind and blunt. In this case, the words spoken made her friend smile, which helped Alyssa feel better. “And I meant every word I said.” In truth, Alyssa knew the other her had considered leaving the Bug House. She loved everyone in the house, especially Ned and Peter, but it had started to feel cramped. Of course, she’d been considering it in a year or so after she saved up money. Now, though? Alyssa didn’t think she could stomach being in that room until she could be the Alyssa they knew or come to terms with who she now was in this place. Because a decade in Wonderland meant she would probably never be the girl who lived here previously. “I think we could both use new chapters.” And she couldn’t imagine Bex wanted to live in the apartment forever. “Hey, it’s alright, luv,” Rebekah reassured her quickly. “It’s okay if you can’t remember how right now. Your wings and you are beautiful and if anyone gives you any trouble, just let me know and I’ll shut them up.” Rebekah could be violent, especially when it came to people she cared about, but more likely she would simply scare them a bit. Use her vampire face and threaten them. Sometimes that worked far better than ripping out their throats. Rebekah downed the rest of her bourbon. “We weren’t always the best to him. I think a lot of why he was always so violent and killed so much was because it was the only time we ever paid attention to him. Because we have to jump in to clean up the mess.” And Kol left a lot of mess. He killed without remorse or reason a lot of the time; he killed because he could and because it was easier to deal in bloodlust than in emotions. He caused pain because it stopped him from feeling his own. Rebekah perked up at Alyssa’s words and she nodded. “I know you did, darling. You’re a true friend and the little sister I never had. I’m lucky to have you in my life.” She took her friend’s hand and squeezed it gently. Vampires needed allies in this town, but more than that, they needed friends. Friends like Alyssa was to her. “Yes, new chapters and more bourbon,” Rebekah added the last part with a playful smile. “You want another one or do you want to head back to my place? We can continue to talk all night if you want. I don’t have to sleep.” How strange to feel panicked about aspects of herself that a mere hour ago made Alyssa feel complete. This time, Alyssa took a deep breath and tried to find the fierceness and complete self-assuredness that made up major aspects of the Red Queen. In this place, though, she couldn’t quite find it. Maybe in a day or two? “Thank you. Truly. This whole situation would be much worse without you.” Alyssa’s eyes flashed a hint of Wonderland’s madness as she spoke, but without Bex’s reassurance, how much worse would she feel? “I just need to figure out how to live in this place again.” When Bex spoke of her brother, Alyssa’s hand covered her friend’s. “I’m sorry. People make poor decisions when searching for attention. And if he wanted it from his siblings, well I can only imagine how worse he might have been.” She sounded sorrowful for someone who wanted love and didn’t know how to work through his pain. She felt tired, but knew she wouldn’t sleep tonight. “How about your place? I wouldn’t mind talking to you on something more comfortable than this bar stool. I did not miss these,” she joked, sounding more like herself for a brief moment. “And I will help you figure that out, okay? I promise.” It would be like starting all over in a way for Alyssa, but Rebekah would be with her every step of the way. When she gave her word, she kept it. Alyssa was her friend, she was like family really, and Rebekah would do whatever she could to help her feel settled in Madison Valley again. Rebekah appreciated the comfort concerning her brother. Perhaps Kol would find something to fill the void he’d had for centuries. Rebekah didn’t know. She hoped he did, but she couldn’t be sure. “Perhaps he’ll find something he’s looking for here. I hope he does anyway.” Perhaps they could be more of a family here too. At Alyssa’s answer, Rebekah smiled and slipped off her stool. She tossed some money on the bar for the drinks and offered her arm to her friend. “Let’s get out of here, darling.” wrap!