villagelogs | 021 » WHAT GOES AROUND GHOST AROUND

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021 » WHAT GOES AROUND GHOST AROUND

characters: Elena Gilbert and funeral goers—Elijah Mikaelson, Dean Winchester and Helen Magnus.
location: The makeshift cemetery, south Mathias.
date/time: Late evening, say 6pm.
content: Overwhelmed with guilt, Elena holds a little ceremony for the spectre that she witnessed being murdered. In reality, she's holding it for herself.
warnings: Mentions of death, grief, murder.

The makeshift cemetery could use another marker.

Wrapped up in a long, thick winter coat with a patterned scarf wrapped around her neck, Elena isn't quite sure of what to make of the little gathering that's appeared for the spectre. Perhaps they think she's a little lost (they're not wrong) or perhaps they think that she's saying goodbye to someone she knows (she is). Whatever their reasons, it doesn't matter in the end. The one lesson she's learned over the last few years is that strangers or acquaintances tend to pull through for her when she least expects it.

She ensures not to kick the lantern that flickers by her side as she kneels on the snow. It soaks through her jeans and sticks to the denim, but she hardly shivers. It's with an old and worn sneaker (she couldn't find a hammer) that she hammers in the uneven, splintering plank of wood into the earth and snow. She does her best with her human strength, but it's a little on the wonky side.

There's no name on the makeshift marker. Elena had known what name she wanted to put on there, but she uses the excuse of Elijah's presence to forgo using the pen in her pocket.

Letting out an exhale, she looks at the marker. "This is for whoever you've lost that you didn't get to say goodbye to." Plucking the thick pen from her pocket, she still doesn't look up. "You can write that person's name on the wood if you want."

Elena will be when everyone's gone. She'll write two names on the wooden panel.

Jenna Sommers.
Spectre.

[ ooc: Anyone is welcome to have seen Elena determinedly gather things from the general store and abandoned houses and followed her to the cemetery. Action spam/prose welcome.

The above write-up is my top level so I'll assume anyone who tags in wants to interact with Elena. (Please note she has a Madness that means she has a fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries, ha.) That said, please feel free to top level as I imagine some of you may want to interact with one another! (Just imagine everyone coupling off to talk quietly since one big long thread with multiple people is bound to be, in the words of Beyonce, a disas-tuh.)

Any qs, you can reach me here. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ when elena feels overcome with regret—why did she do this? why is she here, standing in a makeshift cemetery, feeling afraid when she had taken so much solace in one at home?—she tries to centre herself. being near elijah helps with that, but she spies someone she doesn't know and impulsively believes that speaking to her will make it better.

yes, speaking to a stranger will make her feel more like herself. she's not necessarily the best welcome wagon yet—no one's given her a graduation certificate—but she's here, she feels unfocused, and not talking about this and why she's done it seems far safer.

she longs for jenna and jeremy and stefan, but all she has is the people who have chosen to follow her like they understood the slouch of her shoulders and the frazzled determination in her step. grief propels her here and it keeps her moving forward, sidling up to helen. she fights down the bubbling panic at the idea of being in a cemetery. ]

There's some cheap makeup in town if you wanted to try and— [ she gestures to the marred side of her face. elena breathes out, trying to overcome the panic climbing her ribcage. she'd used some blush to try and liven up her still pale skin. ]

Oh, this? [ helen smiles gently, gesturing to her face, her accent quite obviously not american. ] There's hardly a need. I've had far worse in my time.

[ she glances at the graveyard again before turning her gaze back to the young woman. ]

Although it seems like you may have had some rough times here. [ a pause. ] I'm sorry, I'm a doctor. Things like this stick out more to me than they might others.

[ opening her mouth, she closes it. every and any conversation she has and will have about this little event teeters on a very shaky precipice. elena knows what she's doing and why, but not even to herself is she saying the words. she's trying to bury her grief. ]

Oh, well— [ elena frowns, mulling it over. ] There are a few houses where you can get bandages if you wanted to clean up. I'm not too sure if any of them was a doctor... [ she lets out an amused breath. ] This town kind of lacks in helpful signage.

I've found one... Jackson Boulevard. The first aid kit and hot shower was wonderful. [ she turns, nodding to the way she came. ] I found myself here this morning. Are all these graves for people who are like us? Arrived then passed since then?

[ it is a chilling notion to consider. she folds her arms under her bust to press the heat to her body. ]

If... you don't mind me saying. You could do better to be inside and be warm now that the vigil is winding down. You hardly seem to be in the condition to deal well with the elements.

I… don't know. [ elena hates not knowing. being here has only amplified how out of her own element she is, but there's no point i becoming overwhelmed by it. slowly, she'll learn things, and slowly, she'll be able to navigate it better and be able to journey home or, at least, get elijah back home.

brushing her hair behind her ear, she's slightly grateful for the question, but she knows her answer leaves ample room for their new citizen to press. it's difficult to distract someone when she doesn't know anything to be able to give an in-depth and distracting answer. ]

I'm okay. Thank you. [ she gives her a small smile, feeling a little under the spotlight. ] I'm Elena. If you don't mind me asking… where did you wake up?

Ah, I see.

[ there's a nod of understanding. she won't press the issue then. ]

The vigil was lovely.

[ soft, gentle, very to the point. things didn't seem to linger. though it was still somehow... intimate. if only the one she had given ashley had been as well done as this one had. ]

Dr. Helen Magnus. [ she nods to the little graveyard. ] Here, actually.

[ she appreciates the kind words, even though she has no idea what she'd like to say to them. she's still processing what happened back home, the names she feels like penning to the marker. she takes the welcoming invitation of pursuing another line of conversation happily.

pursing her lips to speak, elena's brows lift then furrow as she looks down at the ground as if looking for DR HELEN MAGNUS WOKE UP HERE. unfortunately, there's no such sign—it'd be another clue to what was going on here.

she can't help her incredulous laugh, ] Really? That's… I imagine that had been rather daunting.

Disturbing, actually. Especially considering I was on a rooftop and in sunny weather before arriving.

[ that could always be something elena pens in herself. a giant sign that says BEWARE, GRAVEYARD MIGHT HAVE THE LIVING. not that helen would recommend it. she frowns for a moment, looking around. ]

Have you run into a rather peculiar sort of man? He could seem rather gentle, or seem as if he were a maniac. His name is Adam.

[ narrowing her eyes for a brief moment, elena tries to run through all the people she's met. unfortunately for helen, she shakes her head. ]

No, I'm sorry.

[ she's tried her best to remember everyone who's here. henry, five, klaus, jonathan… ellie, the girl from the bulletin board. names are difficult in big groups, but elena has a feeling that this group isn't going to be that big.

not liking how depressing that is, she offers: ] But he may be here—I don't think I've run into everyone who's here yet. It seems like most people came here with someone they know.

No, it's a good thing that you haven't.

[ there is an easy smile at her face then. at least, if adam is lurking here in the shadows? he hasn't reached out to hurt someone just yet. he is probably somewhere licking his wounds. ]

I rather hope he isn't. If you find a man about this t all, [ helen holds her hand out at the right height, ] who seems to be a rather maniac one moment, then calm the next? Run away. Then, find me. He's very dangerous.

[ telling elena to stay away from someone dangerous goes in one ear and out the other on most days. if she had listened to damon when he had insisted elijah was dangerous, she wouldn't have the relationship she has with him now.

but she nods. a vampire is a lot easier to deal with than a stranger who isn't one. ]

I will. I promise. [ carding both hands through her long hair and incidentally fluffing it up, she glances to her side, spying elijah from the corner. ] Hopefully he doesn't come here. I feel like this town has enough problems to deal with.

Thank you.

[ it's an honest thanks as well. helen hardly wants these people drawn into the near century old conflict with adam worth. especially given his mental health.

she follows the girl's gaze. then, a tilt of her head. ]

It certainly seems to... I hope he's not one of those problems.

This town doesn't have internet, which I think is it's biggest problem.

[ she laughs; it's honestly not that serious of a problem, although, having internet would definitely make finding out things about this place easier. google maps, in particular, would be very, very useful in discerning where they are.

continuing to be playful, ] It also doesn't have good soda. I think you'll be preoccupied with these issues over anything else.

Oh, come now. Not having the internet isn't that bad.

[ she raises her eyebrows playfully. it's certainly an inconvenience, but, the internet is still a rather new thing for her. comparability speaking. ]

Soda and good tea, it would seem. That's far more of a crime than the internet.

But everything's at your fingertips with the Internet. [ she laughs. she's a millennial, what can she say? right now, she uses bing to do her vampire searching, but it's still very useful to get quick information.

but she's learned from her very short time here that the stories the people here tell are far more interesting than any internet search.

so, she concedes with a duck of her head and a lift of her shoulder. ] Perhaps you're right, though. I would be really sad if I didn't have my soda to drink when listening to some good stories. I think a lot of people in this town have some.

[ it feels nice to laugh. ]

Nearly everything. [ there's a mysterious smirk that touches her face at that comment. whatever could she mean? ]

Especially the ones that have been here for some time. Tell me, do you have any advice for making it through in this place? I've had some advice, but... hardly any real details are given.

Stay warm. [ she smiles; it's a little obvious, isn't it? the weather isn't exactly promoting bathing suit season. ] And if you have a lantern, make sure you keep it lit. A couple of people told me that the fog is dangerous. [ she shrugs, feeling a little lost in that herself. ] I don't understand how, but I would stay indoors on a foggy day.

Hmm. Sound advice. [ there's a smile there still. she's hardly saying no to the idea. it is good to keep warm in weather like this. ]

I found a lantern outside of the house I stepped into earlier. I didn't think it safe to leave it lit while I was out. [ in case, you know, the house catches fire. ] I have heard a thing or two about the fog already.

When you go back to your house, you need to make sure you light it. It'll help you feel more settled in.

[ mosquitoes here are presumably bitches. that's one thing elena's comfortable in telling her; dumping what happened the other night on a strange—or anyone, really—is something she's very hyper-aware of. it's already so overwhelming being in a place where the fog is apparently not nice.

her brows furrow and she decides to take a different tack. ] Where are you living?

[ it could be the boarding house, but elena hasn't seen her linger around there. ]

...I see. Very well, consider it done.

[ she has a feeling it truly isn't about settling in. still, if it helps the girl feel better? then helen most certainly will. she raises her hand and gives her arm a gentle squeeze. ]

One of the houses on Jackson Boulevard.

That's one street I haven't wandered to yet.

[ there are so many streets in mathias to wander to, and with the snow banking up, it's getting difficult to walk from the boarding house to the general store. that's one street she adds to her list to try and wander to when the snow thins. she's curious to see what those houses look like. ]

Some of the houses are in disarray and some aren't. I'm assuming you got one of the good ones. All walls intact, some useable lights.

And a working heater, Thank God. [ helen nods. ]

I have yet to see why some houses have fallen into decay while others seem completely fine. Minus the dust and grime everywhere. It's not only the residential homes. I've seen a few businesses in a similar state.

[ she presses her lips together, both annoyed and thoughtfully. ] I doubt it's because one family left years before another. You'd take pride in your street.

[ so, does this mean that the people of this town didn't take pride in their neighbourhood? it's a strange thought to elena. ]

It's just strange. I also find it strange a town like this doesn't have a cemetery with names.

[ elena finds comfort in cemeteries. she wishes she could find one—a proper one to this—and be with its people. they all have so many stories to tell. ]

Well, small towns usually had their cemetery outside a church. Find the church and perhaps we can find where some previous inhabitants might be buried. Add it to yet the ever growing list of odd things in this town. A general store and a town hall, but not a church? Most towns in the area that this could be in would have one church. A sort of community center in the early days.

[ it even predates her, honestly. ]

[ all she can do is let out a breath, shaking her head in derisive amusement. ]

This town just gets better and better. More questions, no answers, and no way of finding them out.

[ it's a little pessimistic for elena, but she's had a time. she's allowed a moment of it. ]

021 » WHAT GOES AROUND GHOST AROUND

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