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Alex Millar is now free to look how she wants (stucklikethis) wrote in wariscoming, @ 2013-11-29 11:05:00

WHO: Alex Millar and Lexi Branson
WHAT: A poltergeist and a vampire chat.
WHEN: During the IJ downtime :P
WHERE: A shopping mall.
RATING: PG-13
STATUS: COMPLETE



The Christmas decorations were going up, all the pretty lights starting to sparkle and people bustling around as they prepared for Thanksgiving and Christmas, really an entire month of partying and celebrations and family. While Alex had never experienced Thanksgiving before, Christmas had always been a huge deal in her family, even after her mum had left them. Ryan in particular had loved it, even though he’d tried to pretend he didn’t as he became a teenager and showing enthusiasm for anything at all was deemed to be not cool any more.

She wondered how they were, her dad and her brothers, preparing for Christmas without her. Would they even remember to do stuff like put decorations up and cook food, or would her brothers assume their dad would do it, while dad the eternal man-child figured it would somehow get done all on its own and then realise at the last minute that nothing had happened?

It sucked. It really fucking sucked. And with Lord Harry being around, she couldn’t even turn to Hal for comfort. Even though that was messed up, being in love and seeking comfort from the man who was partially responsible for the whole not being with her family for Christmas thing in the first place. But then Alex was a giant mass of contradictions. Even if she could somehow get Hal back, she wasn’t even sure if she could forgive him. Forgive him for not talking to her, not asking for help, for letting himself become the monster. And that was before even getting to the cheating arsehole bit of the forgiveness or lack of. Because she knew, she just knew that Lauren was shagging him, stupid little cow. And why people weren’t going after Harry the same way they went after Jerry, she didn’t know. Hypocrites. Clearly.

She couldn’t face Mitchell any more. Honestly, she wasn’t even sure where he was living these days. And she had no home left to go to. Most of her time was spent sitting in the forest, trying to keep any sort of control on her emotions and failing most days. Trees and rocks had been thrown around, torn apart, by the power of her mind and it fucking hurt. But less than it hurt being around people. Like some kind of masochist, sometimes, like today, she left the forest and stood among people. Living, breathing people, all walking around and going about their lives, not seeing her as she leaned against the wall, watching them with the cold blue eyes of a poltergeist.


It had been a hard few weeks, and with Watson missing and Emma’s boyfriend with him it was worse. Moriarty was never someone Lexi had ever wanted to hear of again. Though it seemed he’d made a deal. Of course he had. He hadn’t been finished yet she supposed. Hopefully though things would work out. Lexi would even help if she could. Not that she really knew a lot about how to do that. Till then though, she wasn’t going to let the upcoming holidays be spoiled, sure there was Thanksgiving which was all well and good but…Russian. Not entirely her holiday. Lexi’s holiday of course was Christmas, which was 5 weeks away and counting. And she wanted decorations. Ridiculous ones. With lights. And sparkles. Maybe they’d even sing some little festive song. Christmas basically was awesome and she was going to make Bed of Roses bling. Perhaps overly bling if people were weird and didn’t get get. She knew Lee and Stefan would expect it of course but she wasn’t sure anyone else would. This made it infinitely more awesome. And so it was that she’d come to be in the mall at the same time as the ghost. Peering at a dancing reindeer in a scarf and hat that sang ‘Most wonderful time of the year’. At first she didn’t notice her, until the blue eyes and the sense that she was the only one that could have seen her. Alex was not in a good place.
Understandably really. Her boy had turned into a mad raging jackass and seemed to be screwing around with the mini vamp from their world. And talking to people and being charming and generally not being a threat. Which Lexi actually understood. It was how Damon had been when he was here. He was seen as a good guy, friendly, charming. They had no idea who it was they were really dealing with or how she would never ever be completely okay with the guy. And it seemed the ghost was not coping great, not that anyone seemed to have picked up on that. If Lexi was honest, neither had she, not really. Till now anyway.
“Alex” she said softly, not sure how much the woman would want to see a vampire. She would understand, and leave if that were the case. But she wasn’t just about to leave her here without trying to help.
She didn’t understand ghosts, ironic since she apparently ended up as one according to various people from home. But being trapped like that. How exactly did someone not completely lose it? Though she suspected maybe Alex had, after everything with Hal, or Harry, or whoever he was. It had to be so incredibly hard for her. And of course so very few of them could actually see her.
“Hey” she tried softly, stepping over closer to the ghost. Knowing to the vast majority of people, she would look entirely like a basket case, but not even close to caring.

Alex actually jumped when she heard her name being called. After all, in a crowd full of people, she wasn’t expecting anyone to actually see her. She even blinked a couple of times until she saw it was Lexi, the blonde vampire who seemed to be the bounciest person she had ever actually met. Sometimes it was hard to even remember that she needed blood to survive and all things like that.

“Hey,” she half muttered in return, glancing around warily and wondering just who else was around and if anyone was about to call the men in white coats for Lexi, who would seemingly be talking to thin air. Thankfully, one benefit of the pre-holiday season was the utter self involvement of everyone around them, all too busy being intent on their own planning to pay any attention to anyone else around them.

Even so, she was still feeling faintly awkward, not wanting to embarrass the blonde. And, weirdly, wanting to hide her eyes, the intense blue of being a poltergeist instead of her normal warm brown. Alex wasn’t even sure Lexi knew what that meant, but that didn’t stop her feeling odd about it. Like losing control was something to be ashamed of.

“What are you doing… oh right, shopping, obviously, fuck I’m being an idiot, sorry, you’re clearly busy and stuff, I’ll let you get on with things and….” Alex was babbling. She knew she was babbling, but it was hard, the first words she had actually spoken out loud to anyone in weeks. The first time anyone had looked at her and said her name. Turns out isolation ruined any social skills, who knew?


Alex was nervous. And generally twitchy. And Lexi was not about to just walk away from her now when clearly she needed someone to talk to. “Don’t worry about it, honestly babe, If anyone questions my sanity I’ll get my Jedi mind trick on.” Though, point, “Hey, do I get to call it that when there are actual Jedi?” Lexi nodded then to the little reindeer that sang and grinned. “Besides I was only here to get decorations. I’m blinging up the bar. It’s a fine tradition I’ve decided to start which will surprise no one ever!”.
God she wanted to hug her. Or something. Just anything to make that look go away. The cold eyes, the expression that said she hadn’t been anywhere or really done anything in weeks and it was all because of the suave psychopath version of her boyfriend making friends and influencing the stupid.
“Haven’t seen you around much since…everything? Are you gonna come stay somewhere. We do miss you, you know that right? And we have noticed the lack of you.”


Alex actually cracked the first smile she had in weeks. It wasn’t much of a smile, more like a faint twitch of her lips, but it was something. “I think the Jedi would get offended. Especially the ex Sith pair.” And the drunk one. Who Harry had gone to meet. Probably another on the list of people who thought he wasn’t dangerous after all. Fuck, they were all stupid hypocrites. Anyone who didn’t think he should be locked up right now.

She half shrugged, still awkward as hell. “Not really got anywhere to go. And it’s not like I need anything. Dead and all, don’t need food and I don’t get cold.” Didn’t sleep either, none of that human stuff. And she couldn’t be seen, so what was the point?

“What kind of stuff have you got for the bar?” It was a casual question, but god, she didn’t want Lexi to go, having the chance to actually talk to someone was feeling good for the first time in ages. “I think just about everyone is expecting you to go all out. It’s the first Christmas for the place, right?”


Lexi's heart actually properly broke for Alex. It was cruel, everything, all of it. And the girl seemed just to want to talk. Be around real people and who the hell could blame her. Lexi was gonna make sure she got through this, no matter what. No matter what Lord douchevamp ended up doing. He wouldn't get to hurt Alex anymore even if she had to call in Rebekah or Elijah to make sure that happened. For now though she would just make conversation with her, show her that not everyone was cruel. Not everyone had forgotten.

“They can think what they want. I'll totally steal their mind power name and they'll like it or I can ban them from the bar. I would too. I'm not having glarey Sith sulk at me!"

As for the kind of stuff she'd picked up.

"Wellll apart from Rudolph here, I have elves, 2 santas that do the hula. Tinsel in seventeen different colours. A tree that's bigger than I am. A garland with a little train that is motion activated and plays 'Sleigh Bells' anytime you come near the door and a bunch of Christmas CD's."

It was possible Lexi had Christmas related obsessions. Maybe. A bit. If people didn't they were basically grinches. "You could help me decorate the place. Lee has gotten weirdly good at sensing when I do this and he flees. We'll find him banging on Stefan's door telling him I've finally snapped and need to be stopped, and can he stay there for a few hours until I vomit Christmas on his bar."


This time Alex did actually smile. Oh, it wasn’t the bright smiles she used to have, but it was genuine. “I think I’d pay money to see you calling them glarey Sith. Just to see the expressions on their faces.” The pair of them didn’t seem the most cheerful of people, it had to be said. Maybe being called glarey to their faces would make them smile a bit anyway. And god knows, everyone needed that sometimes. Actually talking to someone had made Alex feel slightly more human for the first time in weeks.

Still, she blinked at Lexi with an amused smirk. “Hula Santas? Okay, why does anyone need even one of those, let alone two?” It all sounded nice though. The seventeen colours of tinsel, the giant tree. Maybe not the Christmas music, but the rest of it. “Blinking fairylights? Because those are very important at Christmas.” Not that she thought for a second Lexi would forget these things, but she wanted to check.

“Tell Lee he’s your husband, it’s his duty to help with things like reaching the high stuff and doing heavy lifting.” She paused with a confused frown. “Do you even care about heavy lifting? Vamp strength and all? Though the principle still applies.” Alex couldn’t deny she was tempted by the offer to come and help. To be around people, just for a bit. Still…

“Hal… Harry,” she corrected herself. “He’s not likely to be at the bar, right?” She couldn’t handle seeing him. At all. “I’d end up smashing a barstool over his head or something, it would all be very angry and Scottish and I wouldn’t want to cause trouble at your place or anything.” It wasn’t just Harry she wanted to avoid, as much as she didn’t say it out loud. Lauren was another one she thought she might actually rip eyes out of, if she saw her. It did sting that Lydia was friends with the skanky vamp. Who was stupid. And moronic. And tangible.


Lexi did not understand why people hated on the Hula Santa's. "I will have you know they were very popular once upon a time! And I couldn't just get one Hula Santa. Imagine how lonely it would be sitting there all hulaing without its buddy santa. I'm calling them Fred and George." she explained, entirely too proud of her hula santas. No one appreciated her love of the holidays. Because they were jerks. Clearly. All of them. "The Christmas music is ridiculous and people should adore it. I will allow no grinchism in my bar. I do need to pick out new lights though, ones with settings and different colours. I've some for the tree but I feel I should also hang them EVERYWHERE."

So it was her favourite holiday, sue her.

"Lee will be doing plenty of lifting. If he hides with Stefan I'll just make Stefan help. Unless he's wise and actually leaves town to get away from perky Christmas Lexi. Which part of me suspects he'd plan if they knew just how much festive I actually have in store for them. I could lift them sure but where's the fun in that!"

When Alex mentioned Hal, or Harry or whoever he was this week, Lexi raised an eyebrow. "Much as I would accept the death of the barstool for that most noble of causes, I have a douchevamp policy. I still refuse to let Klaus in my bar and Harry's no better. I can absolutely promise he won't be there. Just come by, there'll be people who can see you, talk to you, you can socialize, you can watch me be aggressively Christmassy and you can mock Lee and Stefan for trying to escape me."


Alex couldn’t help the bemused look she gave Lexi. “When were Hula Santas popular? If it was the 80s, that doesn’t count, that was the decade of shoulder pads and really really bad hair.” Though decent music, she couldn’t deny that. She had grown up with her Dad dancing around and singing to the rock of the 80s and loved it, even as she had mocked him mercilessly. Well, it was her daughterly duty after all.

“Okay, okay, I will back you on the pretty lights thing, everyone should love pretty lights, when they’re all sparkly and stuff. Just try to avoid having so many they’re a fire hazard? I’m pretty sure even vampire owned bars have to follow all that health and safety bollocks.” And Alex figured America was probably even stricter about these things than home was. If Britain had gone crazy for regulations, the USA was probably completely insane.

“So you reckon your hubby and your best friend might actually flee the city?” She actually laughed. “Demons, apocalypses, the Devil, none of that makes them run, but perky Christmas Lexi might be the doom that ends them all?” She’d only met Stefan and Lee briefly, but they seemed mostly brave. Ish. Maybe. Then again, Lexi was a force of nature, so probably scarier than all the powers of hell when she wanted to be. While dancing.

The idea of being around people who could see her was actually warming. And gave her hope, something she hadn’t dared to have in weeks. “No douchevamp policy, I can get behind one of those.” Even if Klaus didn’t seem so bad. Though her opinion was probably biased by the fact there was nothing Klaus could do to hurt her. Death had advantages. Kol was becoming a good friend though. Still, there was one hesitation remaining and Alex did feel like a bitch for asking it. “What about skankvamps though?” She had the grace to look sheepish. “I think I’d smack Lauren if I saw her.” Unreasonable, maybe. But Alex felt she had grounds.


Lexi was shocked. And probably even horrified. She had loved the 80's. "But the hair was amazing. And giant! Giant 80's hair was the best thing about it. Besides Bon Jovi. Obviously. And Hula Santa's should always be popular. You will realise this one day!" Alex however might have had a valid point about the fire hazards. Maybe. Ish. But she'd be good and nothing would explode. "We passed the last health and safety and I can totally make it bling while still being safe. I have plans you see. Amazing ones."

And she was sort of convinced of just how much her boys would flee from her. Especially when they saw the hats she'd bought them. They were somewhat festive. Maybe. But that could only be a good thing. "Perky Christmas Lexi is possibly nefarious when it comes to things like this! Look just come to the bar. We'll have fun, we'll mock the boys. It'll be a whole thing. We can make them do manly lifting to music"

Lauren was a whole issue for her which she could understand, much as Lexi could see another side to it. "We'll make sure she's not around tonight okay? And no, you're not expected to like her, but this isn't the first time I've seen the whole suave older vampire practically controlling the babies. I'm pretty sure she's way in over her head and has no idea what to do with that. Just something to think about I guess."


“Okay, so I do approve of Bon Jovi and the music in general, because I was raised on this stuff, but the hair, okay what was with the hair? Clearly this is not my style, I like short hair, see?” Alex made a gesture at her own short and spiky style. Which worked and was low maintenance and didn’t make her look like a guy, thank you very much. “And I stand by my statement about Hula Santas. Does Santa even go to Hawaii? Is that a thing that happens? And would he change his suit, because it would be way too hot for Hawaii.”

She’d been talked into it. Admittedly, Alex didn’t need much persuading to actually go and join people and talk and interact and be fucking seen, that would be nice. So she nodded with a faint smile. “Okay, okay, I’m coming, so we can mock boys. Because that is always fun, and I want to see them flailing. It sounds adorable. And mock worthy.” And normal, which was what she needed.

Alex scowled and folded her arms defensively. “Which would be understandable if she hadn’t been told by several people that he is an evil douchebag, so she loses naive vampire status and goes straight into skanky vamp who needs to be fucking punched in the smirking face.” As she ranted, her voice got louder, and as a woman walked past, her shopping bag exploded, contents scattering across the street, and the shop window cracked violently. Alex had the grace to look sheepish. “Fuck. I can’t always control it.”

She had not gone for the hair. She had NOT sassed the hair.

“His hair was forged by tiny seamstress gods okay.” she said amused, about to launch into a tirade about the wonder of Jon’s hair when Alex talked about Lauren again, and then...okay exploding. Exploding was happening and that was a bad bad bad thing for her to be doing. No ghostsploding.

“We’re gonna go to the bar okay. We’ll go to the bar and we’ll decorate and we won’t think about skanks or exes for a while. Okay. Just have fun with the decorating. Because you really really need that to be a thing right now honey.”

Lexi took her arm not giving a damn how it looked, just figuring the girl really did need the contact with....sort of humanity at least. “Come on honey.” she said softly, noting everyone was looking at the woman's bag. They’d assume something had flown out of it and hit the window somehow, chalk it up to weird and move on. Because people did things like that when weird happened. Rationalized. “We’ll go and I’ll explain why hula santa’s are awesome and make for the most wonderful time of the year. Come on babe.”