Who: Caroline and Miriam What: Wine night When: Saturday night Where: Caroline’s house Warning: PG13-ish Status: Completed via Gdoc
Caroline was excited to have a wine night with Miriam. It had been a while since the two of them had shared a bottle of wine (or two) and chatted about how their lives were going. Settled on the couch with her friend, Caroline poured them both a generous glass of a wine she’d picked out from the casino vineyard. It was of the red variety and Caroline could not wait to taste it. Of course she had high hopes. Every wine she’d tried at the vineyard so far was delicious.
The blond held out the other glass to her friend before resting back against the cushion of the couch. “So, what has been going on? It feels like forever since I’ve had a chance to talk to you.” The vampire took a sip from her glass as she waited for her friend to respond. Not surprising, it was delightful and full-bodied.
Miriam loved wine nights with Caroline. The two got along well and, unlike with Damien, Miriam didn’t have to watch what she said. Yes, she liked Damien. Yes, sometimes he annoyed the brunette. After taking a sip of wine, Miriam smiled at her friend. “Excellent choice, Care.”
She thought about the last while. “I tested gravity and pressure on myself. Okay, I didn’t do the testing myself, but I now know how much gravity it would take to shatter bones in my body. Spending time with Shadow, and then I befriended Chuuya. And kind of that new vampire Damien? With him it’s hard to tell.” Miriam shrugged, unbothered by the unknown. “What about you?”
At her friend’s compliment on her choice of wine, Caroline beamed. “Thank you. That is high praise coming from a wine connoisseur like yourself.” The blond was only vaguely familiar with Damien and Bran. Her experience with the two vampire brothers was limited to what she’d witnessed on the network. Both of them reminded Caroline of varying degrees of Damon Salvatore.
Caroline’s expression shifted from happy to worried and then curious as her friend explained what she’d been up to since they last chatted. “That is…a lot,” Caroline commented once Miriam finished and took a sip of wine. She didn’t much like the idea of Miriam shattering her bones to see how gravity affected her, but she also understood that Miriam was a scientist. “I’m not a fan of shattering your bones to see how gravity affects you, but I guess that is the scientist in you. I’m happy to hear you’re hanging out with Shadow more, but I’m not too familiar with him or the other two.”
Compared to Miriam, Caroline’s experiences felt rather tame in comparison. “Well, I’ve been spending a lot of time with Stefan. We had a wonderful date for Valentine’s Day with a romantic dinner and drinks afterwards. Before that, we spent New Year’s together.” Outside of that, the only thing Caroline considered fascinating was that Lizzie might be moving out soon in order to live with Ty.
Miriam offered her a friend a large and genuine smile. “Unless you buy boxed wine, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.” Mostly because Miriam appreciated the effort her friend put into wine nights. Besides, Pepper didn’t offer any bad wines. “Have you tried the blood wine that Pepper started making? I didn’t think I’d like it, but she meshed the flavours together rather well.
“It didn’t hurt for more than half a second and I healed right up afterwards. Chuuya and I talked about it and I figured why not in a controlled environment with a safe word?” Miriam didn’t want to think what Matthew’s or Marcus’s reactions might be, but they weren’t here. “Shadow is nice, but quiet, so I’m not surprised. I don’t know Bran. Damien is…an acquired taste.” The vampire shrugged. “But I like Shadow.” And he didn’t seem to be in a rush, which the vampire needed.
“I’m so happy that you have him back, Caroline. You deserve time with him and happiness.” Miriam didn’t actually know Stefan very well, but would certainly make an effort to get to know him if he made her good friend happy. “How are the girls doing?” She meant the twins, obviously.
At the mention of boxed wine, Caroline wrinkled her nose and looked disgusted. “Absolutely not. Not even if I was desperate.” Maybe when she was in high school and eager to get her hands on anything with alcohol in it, but definitely not now. She could afford the good stuff, thank you very much. When Miriam mentioned the blood wine, Caroline’s expression shifted to one of curiosity. “I haven’t. We should try that next time. I’ll make a mental note about it.”
The blond looked thoughtful. “Well, I suppose in a controlled environment with a safe word, it wouldn’t be terrible. Not that I’ll be trying it anytime soon. I’ll leave that up to you.” Caroline would heal quickly after most injuries too, but that didn’t mean she was eager to go through the experience. It still hurt like hell when it happened.
“I don’t know. Damien and Bran remind me of a vampire back home. He could be okay, but there were times when he was just…bad news.” There were worse vampires than Damon Salvatore, like Katherine Pierce, but the two Duval brothers could have easily been related to him. In fact, Damien was Damon’s face twin. “I mean Damien is actually his face twin. No fucking lie.”
“But I’m glad you and Shadow are hitting it off so well. I’d like to have a chance to get to know him. Maybe the three of us could go for drinks and chat.” Of course Caroline was eager to meet the guy who’d managed to capture her friend’s attention. Plus, she obviously wanted to make sure he was good enough for Miriam.
Miriam’s response earned her a warm smile from Caroline. “Thank you, Miriam. I appreciate it. It’s been so wonderful.” But Caroline was being cautiously optimistic too. The last two guys she’d been with here were sent home. There was no telling how much time Stefan had here or Caroline herself for that matter. “As for the girls, they are doing good. I think Josie is finally starting to feel more at home here. Lizzie has her clothing line and Ty. I actually ran into Ty last month and he mentioned he has a place. I think Lizzie will probably be moving out soon.”
Miriam laughed at her friend’s wrinkled nose. “I’m glad to hear you bypassed that phase.” Obviously such things didn’t exist when Miriam was still human and neither did pesky things like drinking ages. “It’s pretty good. I’ll make sure to provide us some at our next wine night.” Caroline should not be the sole provider of wine.
“No, I don’t recommend it. But Chuuya wanted to see the outcomes on a vampire and I felt curious, so why not? No lasting damage, we have our answer, and I only pissed off Damien once. I would say he needs to get laid, but I don’t think that’s his problem.” The guy needed to chill the fuck out. Maybe enjoy some edibles or something. And Miriam thought this as someone who genuinely liked him.
“Oh, I can definitely see where you get that impression. I avoid his brother. Something tells me Bran and I would not get along and I’ve lived too long to be murdered by a vampire who loves murder possibly more than a few Mikaelsons.” A shrug as the brunette vampire took a sip of wine. “It must be so strange to see someone with his face.” Thankfully, Miriam hadn’t yet encountered such a thing.
“We could definitely go for a drinks. I’d like to get to know Stefan better too. Maybe we could do a night with the four of us?” Miriam liked time with Caroline and Shadow, so she didn’t see it going too badly. Plus, Stefan seemed relatively mellow.
“I’m sorry. Aren’t they still children and they’re moving in-together?” Miriam didn’t care if she sounded judgmental. Human lives might be short, but even 18 or 19 sounded too young for a human. Right?
“I may be permanently a teenager, but not when it comes to my drink choices.” Actually not when it came to many aspects of her life. Motherhood had definitely helped to mature Caroline. “And I look forward to tasting the blood wine,” she added. She was more than happy to allow Miriam to bring the wine for their next wine night.
“I definitely wouldn’t do it, but I get why you did. And I guess congratulations for only pissing off the Damon look alike once.” Caroline wasn’t sure how to respond to the situation. It was not something she would have done. Potentially putting herself at risk to find out what gravity did to her body was not her idea of a fun time, but Miriam was a scientist. Their brains obviously worked differently. As for Damien, Caroline didn’t know what to say either. She didn’t know him well enough to judge. “I mean you make it sound like pissing him off is rather easy is all,” she added quickly and took a sip of wine.
“Well, they both sound like lovely individuals.” Two people that Caroline would be avoiding for the rest of her stay in Madison Valley. One Damon Salvatore was enough for her entire lifetime.
She perked up when Miriam mentioned all four of them going out together. “That sounds like a great idea. I’m sure Stefan would be okay with it.” As Miriam thought, Stefan was mellow and open to trying new things and meeting new people. Caroline didn’t think he’d be against a double date situation.
Caroline’s smile fell and she set her glass on the table. “They are young. I agree. However, outright forbidding it will do nothing to stop them. They are technically both adults and can do it anyway. I would rather voice my worries, but be supportive, than outright forbid Lizzie from doing it. Besides, I trust my daughter. I trust her judgment.” If Lizzie chose to live with Ty, Caroline would voice her concerns, but be supportive no matter what.
“Thank God,” Miriam teased. Motherhood probably did help mature Caroline, as fatherhood did with Matthew, in some ways. “Here’s to no more boxed wine days and trying blood wine next time.” She readjusted and pulled a leg under her.
She laughed. “He didn’t appreciate my teasing him. Reminded me of Matthew in some ways. Except Matthew is used to it and doesn’t get angry anymore. Just annoyed. That’s what happens when we’ve been friends for centuries.” The vampire found it amusing more than annoying. At least Chuuya seemed to have a similar outlook to Miriam.
The brunette chuckled. “So lovely.”
“Yes! I’m sure they’d get along and it will give me a chance to get to know Stefan better.” While Miriam trusted her friend’s taste in romantic partners, obviously the brunette still wanted to ensure he was good enough for her friend.
Miriam immediately felt bad and rested a hand on her friend’s arm. “My apologies, Caroline. Sometimes I speak without thinking. I think your way of going about it makes complete sense.” Miriam had her step-son, but he’d been alive for centuries, so she didn’t worry about him, even while she missed him. “Lizzie is lucky to have you for a mom.”
“I will gladly drink to that,” Caroline chuckled. She leaned forward to tap her glass against Miriam’s briefly. Box wine was, after all, the worst.
“Perhaps eventually Damien will just get annoyed? If he sticks around long enough.” Caroline wouldn’t bother trying to be friends with someone like that, but Miriam liked something about the other vampire for some reason.
Caroline nodded. “That’s what I thought too. Plus, I do want you to get to know Stefan.” Especially since Caroline felt as if things between the two of them would only grow more serious. Unless the Done had other plans, Caroline was all in with the other vampire.
Caroline immediately felt bad for her response. “No, no, it’s okay. You’re completely right in saying they are very young, but I just would rather be supportive than completely shut them down. That will only drive them away and I don’t want that.” Caroline squeezed her friend’s hand gently. “And thanks for saying that. I hope she feels the same.”
No box wine for the two of them. Miriam returned the glass tap with a smile.
“Maybe. Honestly, maybe we’ll be friends. Maybe we won’t. The good part is after a few centuries, one stops caring too much about what others think.” The brunette vampire did find Damien oddly amusing.
“Good, because I want to get to know Stefan. He seems nice and you deserve nice.” Miriam sipped her wine and sighed. “I’d like you to get to know Shadow too.” She grinned. “Besides, I’ve never seen you light up like this before when talking about a romantic partner.” And anyone who made her blonde friend smile gave Miriam peace of mind.
“No, I suppose you don’t. Obviously my never being a mother card is showing. By the time I met my step-son, he’d been a vampire for a while, so I didn’t really need to worry about the whole too young thing.” Miriam might still be in Jason’s life, but she gave him space to live his life how he wanted. “As long as they’re happy.”
“Sometimes, it doesn’t even take a few centuries. But I wish you good luck with him. He sounds like a handful.” Caroline had befriended people who didn’t want anything to do with her. She knew friendship could be possible with anyone, but some relationships took more work than others. It sounded like the one Miriam was attempting to form with Damien would be one of those difficult friendships.
Caroline nudged her friend’s shoulder. “You deserve nice too. I can’t wait to meet Shadow.” Next time she was with Stefan, she would bring up the two of them going on a double date with Miriam and Shadow. She was sure he would be okay with it.
“Hey. Everyone does the parenting thing differently. It’s okay. But you’re right. As long as they are happy in the end, that’s all I could ask for,” Caroline replied. The blond vampire wanted to be there for Lizzie and Ty to ensure they did have that happiness. No matter what happened in the end.
Miriam grinned. Definitely a handful. But it didn’t bother her too much. She appreciated the easier friendships she had, with people like The Doctor, Caroline, and Chuuya.
“I’ll mention a double date to him the next time I see him.” Miriam actually felt excited about the idea. She didn’t remember her previous relationship here, but she couldn’t imagine it would involve a double date. Or maybe it did.
“That’s why you’re a good mother.” Miriam offered her friend a smile. “I like Ty. He seems like a good kid.” The two worked together, after all. The vampire got comfortable for an evening with her friend.
“Wonderful. Once we get the guys’ input, we can go from there.” Caroline was definitely looking forward to it. She only hoped Stefan felt the same way.
Caroline smiled. “I appreciate that.” She tried her best to be a good parent and without Alaric around, it was certainly more difficult, but she was doing the best she could. “And yes, he is a good guy. He’s been wonderful for Lizzie.”
Caroline reached for her glass of wine. “But let’s talk about something less heavy and more fun. Why don’t I tell you about some of the hijinks happening at school these days?”