InsaneJournal

Freya Mikaelson is Tired™ (frelsi) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2018-06-13 16:22:00

In spite of protests to the contrary, Elijah did enjoy spending evenings at home. There was something comforting in the stillness of a summer evening. Being able to lose oneself in a familiar book with some fine scotch. Again, the simple pleasures were what Elijah loved most. But that evening, just as he had settled in his chair, the doorbell rang. He hesitated slightly before setting the book to one side. He supposed Dumas could wait.

Opening the door, he blinked slightly. “Freya?” She appeared unharmed though there had to be some motive behind her visit. Stepping back to allow her entry, Elijah’s gaze followed her.

“Are you well?”

There wasn’t always some ulterior motive for why Freya would show up at a sibling’s house. It could be because she wanted to catch up, or she saw something that reminded her of them so she decided to visit. Or she just needed to decompress and home just wasn’t the place for that for whatever reason. Or a dream had her unsettled… or she just needed a break from Klaus. Really… it could be anything.

Today it was just a stressful day at work and Elijah tended to be a calming influence on her. Even though she tended to be more evenly keeled than some in their family, there were times she needed that ability to just….sit and be around someone who could calm her. And while she could have gone to Evie, she also wanted to make sure that her brother was handling his transition well. Two fold, really.

She did quirk a brow at the question as she stepped inside though.

“Do I need to be unwell to want to visit with you, Elijah?”

“Of course not,” he answered, offering a warm smile. “I merely feared the worst given our family’s predilection for finding trouble.” Shutting the door behind her, Elijah gestured for Freya to move into the living room.

“I am always glad to see you, Freya. May I offer you a drink?” Something stiff or otherwise. Whatever offense he had given, he did still want to act the good host, especially for his elder sister.

There was no real offense given. After all, Elijah did have a point. It seemed that there was always something going on within the family.

“Thankfully that seems mostly to be reserved for the Dreams.”

Not always, not by a long shot.But from the time she had been reunited with her family in the Dreams, it certainly did seem as if there was one thing after the other and she could only imagine what a thousand years of that would have been like. No, there was no family crisis or something Freya was attempting to avoid. Nothing dramatic like being thrown from windows by Klaus as had happened when their brother had first transitioned from the dreams and she had learned of her own inability to die.

Moving into the living room, Freya contemplated the question.

“Do you have any tea?” It was a bit more of a stretch, their family was more inclined towards alcohol and Freya was more often than not the dispenser of tea. But she might as well ask. If not, there was always wine. Though it did seem from her what she had noticed that there was no concern about losing control for Elijah as Klaus had done and how Finn had feared when he’d transitioned. So that was a relief to see, though the witch knew that could always change in the blink of an eye.

Elijah followed, waiting for his sister to make herself comfortable even as she asked about refreshments. “Is Earl Grey acceptable or were you hoping for something with less caffeine?” If it were the former, Elijah could certainly accommodate that request. The latter and he was afraid that Freya would have to make do with something else.

“I’m afraid my teas supply is somewhat limited but I do at least attempt to keep something on-hand.” Most obviously in case she should stop by but Freya’s thoughts were correct about their family’s preference for more mind-numbing substances. And Elijah did have a rather extensive bar.

“As much as I love a good Earl Grey, I probably should try to avoid caffeine if I want to get any sort of sleep tonight.” There was always so much going on that she had to deal with that sometimes she would get too wired to sleep. Or there were the questions from the Dreams and that also made it more accurate. Oh well, the horror of not having tea and instead some variance of alcohol.

“It’s fine. Red wine then?” Either way, the fact she wasn’t going for something stronger tended to be a good way to tell that as she said, there was nothing inherently wrong that had her show up. Or that she was expecting difficult conversations that would require it.

“That I am more than able to provide,” Elijah answered with a small smile. Moving to the bar, he set out a wine glass, selecting something he thought she might appreciate. “Now…” Pressing the glass into her hand, Elijah took his seat once more, picking up his own drink.

“How have you been, Sister? I trust your work is going well?” At some point he might inquire whether their brother had been an absolute beast to her as well since his return from that mysterious trip out of town but he would allow her some time to settle first.

When one wanted a good wine selection, Elijah was usually the one to go to. At least Freya always thought so. So when she was given the glass of wine, she knew that it would be a good selection. The sip she took just verified that believe.

“Oh you know. Busy.” She was always busy though. “It is, though there are the typical headaches that come with the work.” So many people to help, not being able to do all she wanted. Budget issues, the current state of politics that had a direct impact because of immigration and refugee laws, media. Practicalities and realities. “Basically the usual.”

Not to mention the steps being taken at Pimpernel Outreach.

“How about you? How has everything been?”

“As you say, much the same,” Elijah nodded. “Though my headaches are rather less philanthropic than yours, I feel. It’s all about the bottom line. Ensuring a good profit for my investors, etcetera, etcetera…” Freya improved the world and, though Elijah attempted to give back where he could, he hadn’t dedicated himself to it as she had.

“Not to mention our brother made quite the pointed comment about the state of my personal affairs.” Niklaus had been quite pointed though luckily he had stopped short of openly stating that Elijah needed to get laid. The implication was there, however.

Once you got to a certain age and in work, that did seem to be the general way of things. Same thing, different day. Oh, then there were the days of things going exceptionally well or horribly wrong or just the days you needed to vent about the frustrations of daily work. But as a general rule? It usually was fairly stagnant in the day to day.

The comment about one of their brothers making a comment about Elijah’s personal affairs.

“Oh? And what did our brother say?”

Based in the phrasing of the statement, Freya figured it was probably either Klaus or Kol. Finn tended to be more on the same level in terms of temperament to Elijah and Freya so it was less likely he’d say something that would warrant such a comment.

Elijah hesitated a moment, taking another sip of his scotch before answering. “Niklaus expressed the opinion that, were I to find myself a life of my own, I might be less inclined to insert myself in the lives of my siblings.” Elijah hadn’t exactly risen to the bait in responding and even now he remained calm as he recounted the tale.

“And suggested we continue the conversation at a bar where I might find a woman to help occupy my time.”

Well… that certainly sounded like Klaus and Freya at least managed not to laugh. There were plenty of ways it could have been said after all as Klaus’ moods were mercurial at best and he could say such things to push someone away or to try and ‘help’ in his own way. Such as how he often seemed to show his concern by yelling and making demands - something Freya was far too familiar with as she was often on the receiving end of such ‘concern’.

“Is he insinuating that you wouldn’t be able to multitask then?”

Smirking some, Freya took a sip of wine before tilting her head to the side.

“Though I suppose context matters as well.” It usually did after all.

“I believe he was insinuating that should I enter a relationship, I would be concerned with other tasks.” And Elijah was doing his very best to not be crude. Undoubtedly Freya could guess that the other tasks likely would involve the boudoir. But she was right. He could multi-task.

Context, of course. “I went to see him after his mysterious road trip,” Elijah answered. “I may have questioned whether he would have told anyone were you not his housemate.” It went over rather splendidly, as Freya could guess. “I also told him that I believe he sometimes forgets there are people who love and care about him and, though I was certain he could more than take care of himself, I did wish to see how he was.”

Ah yes, the ‘other’ tasks. There really was no need to go into what those might be as it wasn’t that hard to figure out. Besides again, context tended to help to know what was going on. Which Elijah went into and the picture became more clear to her. As well as the realization that Klaus hadn’t actually told her how finding Ansel had gone.

“Ah. So less of the I’m concerned about you but don’t know how to express it so I’m going to say something insulting or yell and more along the lines of I don’t like being questioned and so I’m going to lash out and push those who care away because I’m perfectly capable of handling everything alone and really my way is the only way type of conversation.”

“Yes, precisely,” Elijah agreed. “Of course he should realize by now that I really won’t allow myself to be pushed away.” Through it all, temper tantrums, insults, even his disappearance after high school, Elijah had and always would remain loyal to his family.

“Besides which, I prefer a relationship based on more than appearances or physical need.” Elijah would never be the type of man to have a one night stand, let alone multiple ones. “Not that my opinions have ever stopped any of our siblings.”

“You would think, but he’s always convinced we’re all going to end up leaving him so he pushes us away to make himself feel in control.” And so the roles were reversed with Freya playing more the mediator and voice of reason about Klaus than Elijah had after the whole magical coma situation. Then again that wasn’t so unheard of. It was a role both of them played and so of course when one was frustrated the other would end up in such a way that venting was allowed and aired out while the person playing sounding board just stated those things.

“Say it’s not so! Needing more than just appearance or physical need!”

Which Freya more than understood. She’d had her own flings overseas, nothing serious but they’d still been with like minded people (even if some tried to say otherwise). Then again there had been a lot of Dahlia damage she’d needed to work through to be at the place she was now, where an actual relationship could occur. Of course she also never had talked about those hook ups because why would she?

“Yes, well, I am determined that he will not succeed.” Klaus needed all of the support and love he could get, even if he felt that he was above such things. “And perhaps eventually he will be reassured that I, of all people, will not abandon him.”

Still his head ducked at her comment, lips tilting up in something of a smile. “A strange thought, I know. But I would prefer an intellectual and personal connection, as well. And I do not see why I should settle for less simply because Niklaus does not wish to be questioned.

Freya had to wonder just how Elijah’s resolve would last given the nature of the dreams. She could well remember his months of ignoring their brother (for good reason) but she also knew that the emotional crossovers differed from person to person and what might have more of an impact than others. Besides, even when Klaus was at his most frustrating and they were at the end of their rope, they always came back. It was just frustrating that Klaus tended to take any criticism as proof of being abandoned.

“You shouldn’t settle. Those kinds of connections are important.” Goodness knew they were for Freya and the relationship she and Evie had. Admittedly both had been denying that there was something between them but the intellectual and personal connections had formed easily. “You’ll find someone in your own time if that’s what you want.” And hopefully they would be able to break the curse of the dreams of what happened to those who got too close to a Mikaelson

Elijah might well live to regret those words but however angry he might be at Niklaus, he had given his word to be there to support him. It was something he did not give lightly, either in the real world or in the dream.

Glancing up at his sister, Elijah’s smile widened into a genuine grin. “I’m sure I will, though I thank you for your vote of confidence, Sister.” And perhaps he would find someone to love just as she had.

“You always have it.” But if Freya could find herself in a relationship then it was more than possible for Elijah to do so as well if that was what he so desired. Freya had actively shut that part of herself down and avoided any situation that could lead to a relationship yet here she was with a girlfriend.

“And I most grateful for it,” he assured her. He loved his siblings wholeheartedly. And Freya shared that same love and instinct to be fiercely protective.