child_of_lions (child_of_lions) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-06-05 11:11:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, katherine pierce, myrcella baratheon |
Who: Myrcella and Katherine
What: Manicure time
When: Backdated to April
Where: Myrcella and Jeremy’s house
Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
Myrcella was looking forward to giving Katherine a manicure, they hadn’t spent a lot of time together but she thought they’d have a nice afternoon. She had her treatment room all set up and ready and hoped Katherine would like it. She was one of the first people outside of Jeremy and Irisa who would see it, after all with her exams being next month she would soon be using it officially.
When the doorbell rang she moved to answer it with a smile, “Hello, come on in” she greeted, “How are you?”
At the prospect of a much deserved manicure and by her brother’s lovely girlfriend no less, Katherine could never turn down such an opportunity. Her brother had been with Myrcella for some time now and while they seemed happy together, Katherine had yet to get to know the other woman besides a few random network posts. Yes, they were both still so young and yes, Katherine would be young forever thanks to being a vampire, but she sensed that perhaps Jeremy had found the true love of his life and it was not Bonnie Bloody Bennett. They did live together and was that not a tell-tale sign? Katherine had not even moved with with Damon yet though, more and more, she was leaning towards the idea. Staying in the same house as her sister, Damon’s ex-girlfriend, was far from ideal and it kept a fresh and thick dose of awkward infiltrating everything. No if Jeremy could do it, so could she and Damon was different. She felt it.
Another reason she wanted a manicure. Saturday was always potential date night and she wanted to look amazing for her boyfriend, especially if they were going to be hanging around Purgatory. Stepping to the door in wedge sandals, dangerously short shorts, and a tank, Katherine took a minute to fluff her curls before raising a finger and aiming it for the bell. Ugh. Yes. She so needed a manicure. Her nails looked like claws. Ugh. Even before the other woman moved, Katherine could sense her in the house; she could hear her heart beat and the sound of the blood sloshing through her veins. The human body. Such a perfect, if not predictable, machine. Picking up on Myrcella’s footstep, Katherine shifted a smile on to her perfect glossed lips just as the door open.
Well, the young woman was beautiful. Not as beautiful as Katherine, but in the ballpark. Katherine would never say anyone was prettier than she was, not even Elena and they shared the same face. Jeremy had good taste in the physical at least. “Hey, Myrcella,” Katherine returned, accepting the invitation inside and slipping out of her wedges. Now, she had access to Jeremy’s house whenever she pleased, but he was her brother and the chances of Katherine coming in here under anything, but friendly terms was slim. “I’m doing alright. My nails are horrendous though,” she replied, face scrunching up in disgust. “How are you?”
Neither Myrcella or Jeremy spent a lot of time with his family, though Myrcella wasn’t opposed to it but they were both just so busy and a lot of their down time was spent together. They were very much settled in their routine at home now and were a pretty happy little family.
She had suggested Friday in case Katherine was going out on Saturday, it was the night most people did if they had a date or anything. She knew Fridays were going to be her busiest days when she started her business properly, at least she hoped they would be.
“Don’t worry after all that’s why you’re here, so I can work my magic” she smiled, “I’m good thanks. Trying not to worry about my finals exams so keeping as busy as possible. How are you? Can I offer you a drink or anything?” she offered.
At the mention of exams, Katherine’s expression shifted to one of distaste. “Yuck. School,” she replied with a firm shake of her head. “No thank you. Been there, done that and I’d rather go through hell than do it again.” It wasn’t that Katherine was bad at school. When she put her mind to it, applied herself, she could actually come up with something other than the perpetual “D” that seemed to have followed her around since junior high. The problem was not a lack of intelligence, it was a lack of motivation. Katherine GIlbert was lazy and unless the topic included fashion, Damon, or juicy gossip, the twin zoned out. Math? English? Isn’t that what the nerds of the world were supposed to be for? To figure this stuff out for her so she didn’t have to waste her precious time on algebraic equations and other boring nonsense? They helped her pass high school so why not the rest of the world? It made sense to Katherine and compulsion only made it so much easier. “I’m sorry. School was just not my thing. It was just so...boring.” Even with the option of taking courses and subjects she liked, Katherine still ended up dropping out after semester.
“Not bad. I’ll be better once my nails don’t look like claws,” Katherine frowned with the words. How could she have let them get so bad? When it came to her looks, there was not much that outranked them to Katherine. The few things that did included her family, few, if any friends, Damon and, at times, the dreams. No, Katherine always thought of them as nightmares. It was rare that when she closed her eyes, adrift in slumber, that anything good ever happened beneath them, but lately, she’d been spared her normal, ritual nightly torture. Katherine hadn’t dreamt in quite some time, perhaps more than a month, and while she was not complaining, part of her found herself distracted by the thought that something much worse was coming. While Jeremy disliked her as a vampire, Katherine loved being a vampire and, despite the ongoing issues with her sister, she was happy. Sometimes she wondered how she had ever wanted to stay human. Being a vampire gave you strength, near invincibility, heightened senses and speed, but also a nifty little trick called “compulsion” and what every girl dreamed of: immortality. Though Katherine could not help, but feel one edge. If something was too good to be true, it usually ended up being such and being a vampire fell into this category now. After all, the dreams had granted her this, who was to say they didn’t take it away too?
Myrcella’s offer of a drink tugged Katherine from her thoughts and she couldn’t help, but think a wicked thought or two. However, it was only thoughts though because as much as she loved the taste of blood, she’d never intentionally harm anyone her brother cared about, especially the girl before her...unless she hurt Jeremy. Then, there was nothing stopping her. “Got any bourbon?” Katherine asked, tone light and teasing. She doubted Jeremy had anything like that around, but alcohol did curb vampire cravings. “I’m kidding. I’ll take water.”
“I wasn’t ever a fan of school either, but beauty school is much different and as nervous as I am I’m also pretty confident I’ll do okay” Myrcella said, she had taken to the different skills she needed to learn quite quickly.
“Don’t worry we will absolutely sort those out soon” she said, “They will be looking as perfect as the rest of you soon enough” she promised, there was little point in denying that Katherine looked amazing. She was the kind of girl other girls always want to be. Though Myrcella wasn’t the kind of girl who wanted to live forever, she had heard enough from Jeremy’s dream to be more than content as she was.
“Water it is” she said with a smile, leading Katherine to the treatment room she had set up as she had put cold water and glasses in there earlier. “Take a seat and we’ll get going” she smiled pouring a glass of water for Katherine before sitting opposite her.
“Maybe beauty school would be different,” Katherine conceded, but only with hesitation. She preferred someone else doing her nails. “But I prefer someone else doing them. I haven’t done my nails since I was 10-” Katherine broke off. It was the start of adolescence with her and the relationship with her sister? The sacrifice. Still, Katherine always knew they were different and as they grew older, the opposition only grew. It didn’t mean Katherine did not have regrets. No, she did not regret Damon and her because it felt right somehow, but she regretted everything else. She regretted being, at times, so cruel to her sister, but she did love her. She did love Elena even if in the dreams they were enemies. The envy lived on, but this was not the dreams...right?
Perfect as the rest of her? Katherine could appreciate this girl already. Jeremy had good taste. One could never do wrong with compliments, especially with Katherine. “I trust you,” Katherine replied with a small smile. If Jeremy trusted her, obviously with a lot, then how could his sister not do the same? It was true Katherine had a natural distrust for everyone she met; to keep oneself from being hurt, one had to be vigilant of everyone and everything they came across. It had kept her from many friends, many lovers, but Katherine sought to protect herself above all else. Mostly. Her family and Damon were exceptions to those rules, rare, but exceptions. She cared for them and most would consider that of an extinct nature for Katherine. Her outer appearance, her attitude, gave people the impression she cared for no one, but herself and while it could be true, she did have a heart.
Smiling, Katherine followed the young woman into the next room and took a seat opposite her. Smart woman. She’d set the water out ahead of time. “Um, so, out of curiosity, how much do you know about...me?” Katherine placed her hands on the table between them.
“I’ve found it to be, it certainly holds my interest” Myrcella smiled, “And luckily I seem to have strong skills too” she nodded, “My mother and I used to go to spas all the time and I always wanted to be able to do the things they did. She didn’t really understand why but I just thought it would be a nice thing to do. Give people such a nice relaxing experience” After all she always had fond memories of her times going.
“Thank you” she said, laying out the towel and things she needed, flipping on the heating box which would aid in the drying of nails later on. Myrcella wasn’t anything approaching frosty or distrustful. She was possibly one of the truly kindest people you could meet, she wasn’t perfect but she tried to be nice. Wake up happy and go to sleep happy was her motto.
“Only a little” she admitted, taking one of Katherine’s hands in her own and picking up the nail file. “Jeremy told me the basics about the family and Damon” Neither Jeremy or Myrcella had a very good view of him but it wasn’t Myrcella’s place to judge as long as he didn’t do anything to hurt Jeremy anymore. He was definitely not welcome in their home but there was no need to hold anything against his sisters.
Katherine couldn’t agree more. As soon as she was able, she’d try desperately to convince her mother that they should go. Once inside, she was convinced the people within the walls were miracle workers. Her nails were so grimy and gross, but after a delightful pedicure, following by a relaxing manicure, the brunette felt like a new person. If it wasn’t for a spa day once and awhile, Katherine believed she’d go insane. Sometimes, she wondered how people survived before the luxuries of a nail file and decent polish. Actually, she didn’t have to because her dreams were nice enough to show it for her and it made Katherine all the more grateful she’d never had to experience it. Not being able to shave your legs? Ugh, gross. “I agree. They are miracle workers,” Katherine replied quickly. “I don’t know what I would do without a manicure and pedicure at least once a month. Or a relaxing spa day.”
The young woman’s response prompted Katherine to believe she was kind, something Katherine could never fathom herself being...without reason. Family and friends were one thing, but complete strangers? No, that was an entirely different story to Katherine. She was all about “I’ll do something for you, if you do something for me”. No one was ever without their own agenda. Myrcella took up one of Katherine’s hands in her own and started to file away. And Damon. With Jeremy, Katherine doubted he said anything good about her boyfriend, but after everything, she couldn’t blame her brother either. Still, Damon was a good man, a good person. Deep down, Katherine knew he was better than she’d ever be and it wasn’t just because of what she’d seen in the dreams. “He told you I was a vampire I’m sure,” Katherine said quietly.
It had been something both Myrcella and her mother could do together which they both enjoyed. While Cersei would come along to bookstores and the like she wouldn’t really like it so Myrcella had stopped asking. Choosing instead to go alone. But spas were somewhere they bonded as long as Myrcella didn’t mention her idea of working there. She had always liked the idea of being a miracle worker, like Katherine said.
“Oh, yes. I do know that” Myrcella said with a small nod, Jeremy had given her his vervain bracelet which was currently wrapped around Myrcella’s upper arm. She had promised him she wouldn’t take it off when he had given it to her, just in case. “Are you okay? I mean, it must have been strange at first?” she said as she continued on with Katherine’s nails.
Strange was putting it mildly. It was insane and the thing was Katherine tried so hard to fight it. After watching Caroline transform and nearly kill Buffy, Katherine found herself horrified by the thought of becoming a vampire, but it was more than that. Her dreams portrayed a woman with no heart, no soul, and nothing to care for other than herself. As much as Katherine was selfish, cruel, and almost heartless most of the time, in the dreams she was much worse. Katherine would equivalent herself to a monster and that was the last thing she wanted to become. In the end, it didn’t matter because fate already chose her path. It was frightening, especially after she’d killed that woman in the park, but afterwards, with Damon, it all felt right.
Katherine shrugged, careful to not disrupt the nail file at work. “It was scary, but I guess I got use to it…” Katherine trailed off, reaching for her water glass and taking a small sip. No, Katherine was not foolish enough to not catch the vervain bracelet wrapped around her upper arm. Her brother was truly no fun...or he didn’t trust her. It was the latter that made the most sense and surprisingly, it hurt. Sort of. If anything Katherine was resilient, even when it came to her brother. A smile crawled across her face and she looked up at the other girl. “It’s pretty awesome. I mean I never have to ask someone to open a bottle of wine for me again.”
“I’m sorry you had to, it isn’t fair sometimes, what the dreams give to us or take away” Myrcella said, it wasn’t that Jeremy didn’t trust her, it was more when he’d gotten it he had wanted to make sure she was safe. From any vampire in his dreams and giving her the bracelet had seemed the best way to do that. He wouldn’t want Katherine to take it personally. “I guess that would be handy, I’m glad you’ve been able to find at least one good thing” she smiled looking up from her work briefly.
It truly wasn’t fair what the dreams took away. Katherine’s humanity was gone forever and while being a vampire was amazing, she missed some things she could never have again. She could never tan again or walk outside in the sun without her bracelet. While being able to feel cold wasn’t important, to feel the sun on her skin was something that Katherine secretly longed for at times. The blood lust would forever condemn you as a monster and there was not a day that went by that she did not think of the woman in the park she’d slaughtered on her first day as a vampire.
“No, it sucks sometimes. I miss some things about being human,” Katherine admitted quietly. “Like feeling the sun on my skin and tanning…” In saying it outloud, it did sound rather selfish and pitiful, but it was the truth. “But yes, opening a bottle of wine is definitely a plus.”
To Myrcella it showed how strong Katherine was in so many ways that she hadn’t let it get her down, Myrcella wasn’t sure she could have carried on as Jeremy’s sister had. She had a lot of respect for her.
“I know it isn’t the same but if you ever need a little pampering pick me up then I will always be happy to help out” Myrcella offered, after all it was amazing how much it could help sometimes. “I could even have wine at the ready too” she added with a smile.
Katherine didn’t think herself strong; when she first became a vampire, she’d given into the bloodlust. If Damon hadn’t showed up and hid the body, Myrcella wouldn’t be looking at her in much the same way. She’d consider her a killer and while the vampire had not killed anyone since, she’d fed off of humans many times, invoking compulsion to keep herself from being discovered. Blood bags were easy, quick fixes for the lust, but there was something tempting, unique and delicious about feeding from the actual source. “Oh you know I’m going to take you up on that,” Katherine replied with a large grin. “A lot.”
At the mention of wine, the brunette’s smile widened. “You provide the wine and you’ll have a loyal customer for life, Myrcella,” Katherine replied gleefully.
Myrcella wouldn’t approve of the compulsion use, it wasn’t really fair whether there was something better about it for the vampire or not. But she also wouldn’t hold it against her for not being able to control herself when she first woke as a vampire. It would be such a shock after all.
“You’d be very welcome to. And if wine is the way to gain loyal customers I need to invest in more” she added with a grin.
“A little inebriation goes a long way,” Katherine replied, winking at the young woman seated across the table. “Trust me.” Once upon a time it had been the easiest, quickest way to her heart: booze. Enough of the alcohol in her system and Katherine lost restraint; she became every bit the sleazy individual Kol claimed her to be. Thus, her prior history with Damon and the horrible outcome. Sometimes it shocked her to believe he was into her at all. They’d been mortal enemies; not just here, but also in the dreams. Like Stefan, she’d been involved with Damon, but unlike Stefan, Damon refused to let her go after seeming imprisonment in the Church. Determined, he sought to find a way to release her and in doing so, provided the entire world, including Klaus with the knowledge she was still alive.
“So, how are you and Jer? You seem happy,” Katherine could only hold off prying for so long, especially into a sibling’s business. “Should I be anticipating wedding bells soon?”
“Thanks for the tip” Myrcella said with a smile, she wasn’t much of a drinker but she did like hard cider sometimes or a nice rose wine. Mostly though she preferred juice or tea.
“We’re very happy” she said giving a bright happy smile as she looked up from her work on Katherine’s nails, soon she’d need to ask her to chose a colour for the varnish once the nails were all shaped, “Oh I don’t know about that. I mean of course I’m hoping to marry him one day but we’re pretty happy right now as we are”