Who: Rebekah Mikaelson and Marcel Gerard When: Tonight Where: Ice Formal What: Dancing, drinking, and talking. Rating: PG-13 at the most Status: Closed; Completed Gdoc
Being that Marcel and Rebekah were not ‘together’ in this world (or whatever), it was a bit awkward when they woke up in the same room aboard the Alaskan cruise ship. However, the two had actually made the most of the voyage so far and the blond found she was having more fun than she could have possibly imagined aboard the ship. The longer the two of them were aboard, the more Rebekah felt that they needed this. It was a chance to remove themselves from the town for a while and maybe focus on each other?
Truthfully, Rebekah hadn’t made a choice between either of the men in her life. Marcel and her had history. A lot of it. No matter who each of them ended up with, they always found one another again and again. The feelings she had for the other vampire never faded completely and she knew the same was true for him as well. The kind of love they had never went away. It merely went dormant until they saw one another again. If even that. Barry, on the other hand, she’d met in Madison Valley and come to care for since her early days in town. She enjoyed spending time with him even though he had gone to the orgy and not told her about it until after.
It was complicated and Rebekah still needed time to sort through her feelings for both men. She’d been about to say ‘yes’ to Marcel back home following her final good-bye to her beloved brothers, but when she came here, she convinced herself that she would never have the chance to possibly say it again. Now, she did and Rebekah wasn’t truly sure if she should or not. She loved Marcel, but would he feel the same still?
Perhaps the two of them attending the formal aboard the ship was a good starting point to finding out. Rebekah obviously found something stunning to wear. Her dress matched her very expensive heels and her makeup was done expertly. She had her hair in loose blond curls around her pale shoulders. Obviously, her first stop once inside the formal was to look for alcohol of some kind and wait for Marcel to arrive. Even after hundreds of years, he could still make her feel nervous.
Marcel hadn’t exactly been displeased to wake up in the same room as Rebekah. Okay, really he woke up happy, but it didn’t change the awkwardness of the situation. Truthfully, Marcel probably would have felt less awkward if he hadn’t gone back home and lived those twelve years. Twelve years where he hadn’t talked to Rebekah for years in those twelve. Where he’d fallen for someone else, only to realize Sofya would never be Rebekah. To have years living away from New Orleans with Rebekah. And then his proposal.
But in the end they’d found themselves back together. Kol convinced his sister she needed to choose happiness. So, she and Marcel were back together at home.
Only to show back up in a place where he had no fucking clue how Rebekah felt. Okay, he kind of knew, but she’d found someone else. Before he got sent home, it bothered him less. Now, though, he realized just how fucking much he’d always love Bex; would always love the blonde no matter what. At least they’d had a lot of fun together on this trip. They went exploring, tried food, and generally felt more relaxed together.
Knowing Rebekah as he did, he knew she’d look like she walked off a Paris runway. So, Marcel found an expensive tux, in classic black, with dark purple accents.
“You. Look. Stunning.” Marcel felt at a loss of words when he saw Rebekah, but offered her his arm. “That dress is perfect on you.” Of course, Marcel knew whatever she wore, would look amazing.
Rebekah sensed him before he approached her. Obviously, he was handsome, dashing in a tux with purple accents and Rebekah could hardly control the urge not to grab him by the hand and pull him in for a kiss. Vampires and heightened emotions after all. Even after thousands of years, she still had issues controlling them, especially attraction and anger. Yet, she managed to keep her reaction to a bright smile. If she’d been human, there was little doubt his words would have made her blush brightly.
“Thank you, love. Being that I knew I would be seeing you here, I wanted to make sure I stood out.” She reached out and gently touched his collar. “Though, obviously the sentiment is mutual. I do believe you are the most handsome man here and I do love the purple accents.”
Marcel resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her waist and pull Rebekah in for a kiss. He had some self-control. Plus, as much fun as the two had on this trip, he didn’t know how welcome she would find a kiss.
But that smile. God, Rebekah’s smile. “You would always stand out to me.” The touch of the collar brought out his own boyish grin.
“I needed to be sure I looked good enough to escort you, Rebekah.” He took her hand and placed a light kiss to her knuckle, and pulled back to offer her his arm to enter together.
Rebekah had to remind herself that they were still feeling one another out. This trip was actually perfect to do that. As much as she wanted to simply kiss him and lose herself in the bond their past provided, Rebekah recognized that it couldn’t be that simple. Madison Valley being part of the equation definitely complicated things for the two of them. Taking it slow was the best thing they could do for each other.
Still, she couldn’t help the thrill that shot through her when Marcel placed a kiss to her knuckle. It was always like this for the two of them. The connection was just…there. The blond vampire took the offered arm and the two entered the formal together. “So, what shall we do first? Mingle? Dance? Or drink?” Obviously, Rebekah was fine with any of the three as long as they involved Marcel and potentially copious amounts of alcohol.
Marcel thought the whole taking things slow made a lot of sense. He had changed a lot in the last month/twelve years and Madison Valley wasn’t home. But it didn’t mean his feelings for Rebekah changed. No, more like they needed to reacquaint themselves with her feelings. Make sure they both still wanted to be together and how it would look.
The kiss to her knuckle was soft and brief, but Marcel knew he wanted it to be so much more. Best not to think about it.
“Well, why don’t I get us some drinks, and then we can dance? I’m sure mingling can happen, but I’d rather drink and dance with the most gorgeous woman here, at least for now.” Marcel might flirt, but he still meant everything he said.
He returned a few moments later with high end bourbon for the both of them. Once a Mikaelson always a bourbon drinker or something.
“I’m perfectly happy coveting the attention of the most handsome man here,” Rebekah replied with a flirtatious smile. She released his arm, watching as he departed to find them some drinks, before her attention shifted to some of the other patrons in the large room. Everyone truly looked quite magnificent. Not surprising, Caroline looked stunning too. Though she felt slightly out of practice being here, she also was excited to be part of a formal again. Especially with Marcel by her side.
Marcel returned to her, carrying glasses of high-end bourbon, and Rebekah gratefully accepted one of them. “Thank you, darling.” She glanced down at the glass in her hand a moment before her blue eyes shifted back to his face.
“I suppose some things never change. At least not where our drink choices are concerned.” Rebekah took a sip from her glass.
Marcel grinned at her words, even if he could feel his heart do a little dance. “I won’t be too long.” And he felt happy coveting the attention of the woman who captivated his heart time and again. While he waited for drinks, he looked around admiring the outfits people chose to wear. They all looked wonderful.
“Of course, Bex.” He clinked her glass and laughed. “I can’t imagine reaching for a drink besides bourbon most of the time. I don’t think that will ever change.” Marcel took another sip and then gave the blonde a smile. “Can I dance with the strongest and most beautiful woman in this room?”
“It’s strange that the thought of that not changing is rather comforting,” Rebekah admitted softly. Given everything her, her family, and Marcel had been through, she’d come to expect change without hesitation. Yet, the thought of them all still drinking bourbon over anything else brought a small amount of comfort to her. It was nice to know that even when things shifted around them that there was a constant. Kind of like her feelings for Marcel. Regardless of everything, those feelings never went away. Even now, in some pocket dimension or whatever, they held steadfast to her unbeating heart.
At the question, Rebekah downed the rest of her bourbon easily and set aside her empty glass. “I suppose one dance would be alright,” she teased gently. She reached out and slipped her hand in his own, more than willing to take the lead. Though Marcel would be one of the few men she ever relinquished it to willingly.
“Shall we?”
Marcel found comfort in the continual enjoyment of bourbon by all the Mikaelsons. He counted himself as one at this point, even if he wouldn’t quite say so. “I feel the same,” he responded, equally soft. A lot of things might change, but the enjoyment of bourbon and his love for Rebekah never went away. Like he could count on those two things and he appreciated it.
“Only one? Well then I should definitely make it count,” he returned the teasing. Hand in hand they arrived on the dance floor. Marcel’s one hand stayed entwined with Rebekah’s, while his other hand found her waist and gently pulled her close. Everything about her made Marcel feel like he’d arrived back home. In case he only got brief moments like this, he wanted them to count.
He started to move to the music, Rebekah in his arms. Marcel took the lead for now, knowing full well Rebekah might decide she wanted to lead and he’d be more than willing to take the following role.
At his teasing, Rebekah couldn’t help, but laugh. “I don’t think there has been a single dance between us that hasn’t counted, Marcel. Or, more so, didn’t matter.” No matter how many centuries Rebekah lived, dances with Marcel still stuck out in her mind more than any other dances she’d shared with anyone else. Though, she could say that about anything they did together.
His hand settled on her waist felt as if it was meant to be there, a born fit, and Rebekah rested a hand on his shoulder. The other gripped his hand lightly as they slowly swayed to the music. Part of Rebekah would always want to take the lead. She was a strong woman, a force to be wrecked with even with dating, but for the moment? She was content to allow Marcel to take the lead.
The blond vampire simply wanted to relish the moment.
Marcel knew he felt the same. Whatever the two did always stood out in his memories more than with any other partner. He knew he’d made the right decision time and again to be with Rebekah. “I agree, Bex.”
To the Black vampire, Rebekah fit perfectly against him as they danced. He knew, without a doubt, he’d want nobody else in his arms. But Marcel didn’t say anything, at least not yet. Instead he twirled his favourite person in the world and then pulled her back against him.
Much like the physical dance they were doing now, the metaphorical dance they’d been participating in for centuries both of them knew very well. Of course Rebekah knew she fit perfectly in Marcel’s arms. When he spun her, Rebekah returned to him flawlessly. It was almost a mirror of the situation they were in now. Despite everything, including being trapped under a Dome, they were still coming back together. It was a lot for her to consider despite how much she simply wanted to live in the moment.
Returning to his arms, a hand on his shoulder while the other was clasped in his own, Rebekah caught his gaze and held it. It was a dangerous moment and Rebekah knew it, but she simply couldn’t help herself. She struggled to come with something to say to stop herself from doing what she desperately wanted. To kiss him.
“It’s nice to know we both haven’t lost our touch when it comes to fancy dance moves,” Rebekah offered. Yes, it was an attempt at a dodge.
Marcel had no fucking clue what to do at this point. So he continued to dance with Rebekah. To him it made perfect sense that they’d return to each other over and over and over again. But, he’d arrived after she found someone else and if Marcel thought about it too much, he knew he’d feel anger and heartbreak, so instead he focused on them currently dancing and how much he still loved Rebekah.
He held her gaze and when she dodged what she obviously wanted to do, Marcel leaned in and kissed her forehead.
“I’m sure neither of us would lose our touch, Rebekah.” If either of them grew two left feet, he’d accuse someone of body snatchers.
The kiss on the forehead was almost too much for Rebekah to handle. It was sweet and kind. A gesture to say he understood what she was feeling and that it was okay. The original vampire managed a smile though inside her heart ached terribly. She knew she had to figure out what she wanted and soon. Or there was a good chance she would lose Marcel forever.
“Of course. I’m sure. Hundred of years of practice and all,” Rebekah replied softly though it was clear her voice held a note of sadness.
“I am sorry, Marcel,” she added after a moment. “I wish we could simply be together here without all the complications.”
Marcel wanted to reassure the blonde he loved that she could take all the time in the world to figure out where they went from here in this place. But, self-preservation told him it would be a lie in the long run, and therefore not kind. Although the fact she worried about losing him at least made him realize they might have a chance.
At the note of sadness, Marcel stopped dancing and pulled her in for a hug. “We have definitely danced together more than a few times.” He did want to provide what comfort he could to one of his oldest friends, relationship or not.
He hadn’t expected an apology and so he chose his next words carefully, still hugging one of his favourite people in the world. Marcel didn’t want to add to what she felt, but he recognized he couldn’t just say it’s okay, not when he didn’t exactly mean it. “I’m sorry too. I wish for the same thing, Rebekah.” Generally, Marcel didn’t mind being a cocky asshole, but this moment called for the genuine person he could be with certain people.
Given how well Rebekah knew this place by this point, she knew she didn’t have all the time in the world. No matter how much she liked to think otherwise. People came and went here constantly. There was no guarantee Marcel or herself could be here tomorrow. It was just how Madison Valley worked. If he had told her she had all the time in the world, she would have called him out for lying to her.
Marcel paused in the dance and pulled her into a huge. It was all that Rebekah could do to stop herself from crying right there in the middle of the dance floor. She knew he was trying to comfort her, but right now? There was little he could do. She knew it rested on her shoulders. Just like back home. The choice to be with him resided with herself. The blond vampire buried her head in his shoulder and nodded. After a moment to compose herself, Rebekah whispered “I’ll make a choice. I promise you.” Already she was setting a deadline for herself. By next month, she would know who she wanted to be with. If Marcel hadn’t already decided to move on that was.Or even Barry for that matter.
Marcel did not desire to lie to the Original Vampire. And in this place they didn’t have all the time in the world. Oh he wished they did, but Marcel already got sent home once in his month of living here.
He thought again of Kol. Back home it had been Kol to tell Bekah she needed to choose happiness the way Kol did. And Marcel wondered about choosing Rebekah each and every time. He would again and again, but he couldn’t help remembering how she said no at his proposal.
His hand stroked her hair, buying himself a minute. Marcel recognized her tone and hated how he couldn’t fix this for her. He did find himself chuckling at how absolutely Rebekah she sounded in this moment, with her classic determination.
This time he gently lifted her chin so he could face her eye to eye. “Rebekah Mikaelson. This is eating you alive. So no more thinking tonight about who you’re choosing. You’re with me tonight and so we are two old and close friends who will dance, drink, and take a few laps so everyone can see how absolutely stunning we both look.” This seemed like the only gift Marcel could offer tonight.
Kol and Rebekah were close. As the youngest, they bonded and Rebekah did seek Kol’s advice from time to time. Besides, they told one another practically everything, including Rebekah being torn between Barry and Marcel. However, Kol was not from the same spot in the timeline as Rebekah. Kol didn’t know happiness with Davina yet. He couldn’t offer her the encouragement she needed. For him, Marcel was still just a wannabe Mikaelson.
The sound of his chuckle was a good sign and when he lifted her chin, Rebekah allowed him to do so. Her gaze met his and, at his words, the blond relinquished some of her trademark stubbornness to nod. He was right. They should enjoy the night and this time together. Decisions could come later. For now, Rebekah was content to live in the moment with her oldest and dearest friend.
“Alright. We’ll enjoy the night and think no more of it. How about we get another drink and then do a lap? I’m feeling the need to show off a little.”
Marcel nodded and smiled. “Then shall we?” He held out his arm for Rebekah to take, so they could enjoy the rest of their evening together. Truthfully the vampire needed to not think about what might happen if she didn’t choose Marcel.
With a smile, Rebekah accepted his arm. “Let’s.” She allowed Marcel to lead her off the floor and towards the bar for another drink. She tried to let go of the anxiety bubbling beneath her smiling face. Let them just enjoy the evening and see what happens.