Who: Elena and Elijah What: a run-in/convo When: backdated to early March Where: Crescent Moon Rating: low
Elijah heard that Elena (and Damon) had both arrived in Madison over the last month or two, but the vampire really didn’t pay attention. He’d run into Damon at Verdant a few times and the pair managed a cursory nod at each other. Better than ripping off heads, but Elijah didn’t want to spend his second chance on life angry.
Tonight he’d decided to visit Hope’s restaurant. He could go for some delicious Cajun food and really, his niece did run the best restaurant in town. The vampire entered and looked around for where he wanted to sit, when he noticed a familiar brunette.
“Elena,” he greeted her as he approached.
Elena had been going to different places for food to get a better lay of the land and today was the New Orleans place. When she stepped in, she had to admit that it smelled delicious. She was also maybe a little hopeful she’d meet Hope whom apparently was Klaus’ daughter - something she was still struggling to understand. Though in truth, the idea a vampire could have a child did mean that Elena felt a little hopeful about her new vampirism.
She looked up from the menu to Elijah. Instantly she felt a little guilty. Elena wasn’t exactly avoiding Elijah and the others, but she hadn’t gone to seek him out either. “Elijah. Hi.” She gave him a small smile, then gesture to the other side of the table. “Do… you want to join me?” Damon was working tonight so it wasn’t like Elena had any other plans. She still hadn’t figure out where she fit in here, especially since she was still only able to go out at night.
Elijah didn’t know if Hope happened to be working or not, but either way he’d check in with his niece. While he missed Hayley, it wasn’t the loss Hope experienced yet again. If her parents reappeared again, he would support Hope in whatever way she needed, same as he knew Bekah and Kol would do.
“If you don’t mind, I would certainly like to join you.” Elijah took a seat and nodded at the server who hurried over to bring his water and a green tea. The one drink he’d consume that wasn’t a latte or bourbon.
He heard about Elena just showing up and he looked her over, not leering, but to take in how she looked. Elijah sounded sympathetic. “How are you setting in, Elena?”
That Elijah wanted to sit with her made her smile. “It’s been interesting… and a lot.” But since she was now on a strange planet in a strange world, it wasn’t terrible when she thought about it. She had to wonder if Elijah knew she was a vampire, but it had been a while since she got here and she knew the Mikaelsons generally liked to be ‘in the know’. So she thought it was okay to say, “I think I’m finally getting the use of being a vampire.” She tried to make it sound as casual as she could.
Elijah did know of Elena’s vampirism, and always felt rather sorry that another human who didn’t wish to be a vampire became one. Though he knew she’d adjust as most others did. “This place can definitely be a lot. Have you made any friends?”
A server appeared and Elijah awaited Elena’s order before he placed his own. The vampire noticed a lack of a daylight ring and inwardly blanched. “No daylight ring?” She needed one to survive this place. The Original would offer his, but he needed his for classes. Though perhaps he could reach out to Hope about making one for the newly turned vampire. “I could ask my niece?”
“I think maybe one potential friend?” Maybe. Kayla had been nice, but just because someone was nice to you, didn’t mean they were going to be your friend in the long run. Elena was hopeful though. It was hard considering the whole lack of a daylight right.
Her eyes widened a little. “You think she’d make me one? We… haven’t met yet. I came here to try to work up the courage if she was working to talk to her.” She wasn’t sure why he admitted such an embarrassing thing, but she always felt like she could confide in Elijah. “But, I’d love to have one. It’s been hard to really feel like I’m finding my footing here being stuck to the night. Not to mention it was supposed to be my final year of high school and I can’t even pretend to do that.” She offered the sort of smile you made when you knew it sucked, but there was nothing you could do about it.
If she said Kayla, Elijah would smile. He might not always see eye to eye with his niece, but he did love her. Besides, Kayla could use a friend.
“I can ask her if nothing else?” Elijah felt comfortable offering to reach out to Hope if nothing else. “We have random things from home show up sometimes too. He nodded, a look of empathy crossing his face. “I get it. This place is a hard enough adjustment.” And he had no idea where she and Damon currently found themselves.
“I’d like that. And I’ll repay her if she’d like.” Maybe she shouldn’t just be offering to repay a Mikaelson, but Elena wasn’t the sort of person to begrudge someone for their family. If that were the case, she also should be judged for what her ancestors did. Besides, everything she’d heard about Hope had been nice.
She nodded. “Have you adjusted?” She wasn’t really sure how long he’d been here so she followed up with. “How long have you been here?”
“I’ll let you know what she’d like in repayment.” Knowing his niece, she’d make a daylight ring out of the goodness of her heart, but at the end of the day? Hope could make her own decision. Elijah would still ask, though.
“I’ve been here for about a year and a half. I’ve settled in well enough. I have Rebekah, Kol, and Hope. Rebekah has her fiance, Marcel. Kol is adopting Kaya and, even though his girlfriend got sent home, at least he has Kayla.” The server reappeared and handed off drinks. “We’ve adopted another young woman in town as a sibling, Alyssa,…even though her choice in romantic partners could be less terrible. She has white wings if you run into her.”
“I have a job as a professor. I teach Ethics and History. I live with my ward, Clawdeen. Sweet werewolf kid.” His life was fine. Nothing exciting.
“You’re a professor?” Elena asked surprised, but with a smile because she could see that for sure. And he had a werewolf ward which was interesting considering back home, but Elena understood now more than she had when she arrived that everything was different here. Rules back home didn’t align necessarily with Madison. She kind of liked that. “I bet you’re a good teacher.”
Briefly the wonder if she’d even be able to go to college crossed her mind, her expression dampening for a moment before her smile was back on her face. “I like how people can just… be here. There’s not the same sort of drama like there is back home. It’s almost… freeing?”
“I am. Well, at the community college. I like my job. Mostly.” And Elijah’s students seemed to like him well enough. Probably because he introduced just a touch bit of humour into his lectures, while taking no shit from anyone. Fair, but held firm boundaries.
“Clawdeen is a nice kid. Really into family. She’s like a niece to me at this point. Though we haven’t spoken about adoption or anything like Kol and his daughter.” Elijah thought Kayla was a great addition to his younger brother’s life. The two balanced each other, though he knew how much losing Allison hurt both of them.
“Maybe I’ll have you in a class. Though probably not, because I expect you’d be at the college.” Elijah nodded. “It’s…freeing for sure. Like, are there negatives? Of course, but here I can just…teach school and spend time with family.” And not be dead, though he didn’t add that part out loud.
“We’ll figure out a daylight ring for you, Elena.”
It was both strange, but very nice to hear Elijah talk about things that were so normal. She could hear Stefan’s warning about being careful, even if it seemed like the rules here were different, but Elena couldn’t help it. She already held a particular soft spot for Elijah and now, perhaps, even more.
She smiled at his saying she’d go to college - she certainly hoped she would. Even him saying that made things feel a little more normal, if that was even possible.