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accidentalshifter · 25 days

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[March 24-25, 2024: Unwanted dinner guest who despite being declined politely multiple times still ends up getting his way.]

⚜️ TW: My Mikaelsons are a ✨️ problem ✨️ and don't play nice at all. Death, sex, blood, violence, manipulation, and dark themes will probably be present. I don't condone any of the actions taken by these vampires, I'm just recording them. For science.

Shifting Notes:

Whelp, I lasted all of a few hours in my DR without running into an Original. 😅 What a record! For now, this DR is running on a few scripts outlined in [this post here] but seems to have a mind of its own. Which is probably a commentary on me, tbh. This trip threw me an interesting curveball. I'm still trying to corkboard strategize my next move like-

Astrological Timing: (Partial) lunar eclipse in Libra. An excellent time for shifting due to an eclipse's liminal, portal energy. This shift definitely was a memorable one; was incredibly vivid, detailed and crystal clear.

⚜️ I re-enter DR at the exact moment that Elena gives Caroline (then me) the "who is this person??" look. Embarrassed, I rub the back of my neck and respond with: 'I'm new to hearing pretty much everything about Mystic Falls. This is my first day in town. I'm still kinda acclimating, haha!' 😅 A huge lie but telling the truth right now would cause more problems. That's a conversation for a later day...

⚜️ Elena says: 'Oh', as if a great tragedy has befallen me. Caroline reacts the opposite & exclaims brightly, 'Well, welcome to Mystic Falls!'. Then, immediately tries to get me to buy a raffle ticket/s in her next breath. 'You should celebrate it by buying a line of raffle tickets!!". Elena turns to Caroline, chastising her for what I guess (??) Elena considers to be rude behavior & Caroline blows it off with no remorse when she says, 'What, Elena? It's for a good cause!'. I can see in Caroline's face that she truly believes that.

⚜️ Elena turns to me and tries to rectify the situation by saying, 'You can get like 2, that's what everyone usually buys. Or you can give a dollar to the tip jar if you don't have 20$ to spend'. Elena is trying to alleviate the weight of Caroline's "you will spend your money for this fundraiser" stare that is focused on me. I am not sure if Elena is doing this out of care and kindness or if she's just embarrassed by Caroline. It's probably the latter option.

⚜️ I decide that donating to the fundraiser is the right thing to do in this situation. 'No, no. It's cool!' I say while digging through my bag for my wallet, 'I'll buy a line for 20$.' Caroline almost literally sparkles at this response and claps her hands together, exclaiming 'YAY!!!' as if the team she's cheering for has scored a goal. Meanwhile, Elena is just...looking at me. She's got this expression on her face like she's trying to place where I come from or is surprised/shocked by something. Is it that I bought the 20$ line of tickets??? Either way, her intrigue makes me nervous. She is Elena, after all...

⚜️ In fact, Elena is so absorbed in whatever it is that she's trying to figure out that Care has to nudge her out of her focused trance. 'Uh. Elena, the tickets...?' Caroline says. The brunette blinks, shaking off the shock, and begins to size up the line of tickets from the roll placed on the table. 'Right, uh. And what name should I put on the tickets?' Elena asks me while I'm handing Caroline a 20$.

Observation: I'm super suspicious of Elena's behavior right now. My DR is going off-script again and I have no clue what ramifications this interaction is going to have in the future. 😅 Also it's Elena. The main character. Who has doppelganger plot armor. I'm uh...having my guard up on this one.

⚜️ 'Zoey', I answer immediately, then follow with my last name of St. Claire...and tack on the "Webb" reluctantly at the end. 'That's my father's name, though', I re-amend, feeling Z go through a gut twist at this moment. Elena begins marking each ticket (with my initials) using a thick, black sharpie. She hands them to me as soon as the job is done and I thank her for it. Z asks them what their names are just in case there's more causes to donate to while I continue to study Elena's face for any possible clues on what the fuck has got her so spooked.

⚜️ Caroline immediately introduces herself. Elena follows suit afterward but seems a bit more subdued about it. Almost...reluctant. I say that it's nice to meet them both & maybe I'll "catch you guys around". I quickly take the conversational out, wave goodbye to Elena and Caroline. Then, walk away as quickly as possible because I can feel the anxiety rising up in my chest.

Observation: I've tried to script out my social anxiety a bunch of times (and maybe I'm just a terrible, untalented shifter) but no matter how many times I've reaffirmed the idea that "I am a social butterfly", my DR is like 🤣 no, bitch. you ain't tho. 💅

⚜️ Walking through the Mystic Falls Square is an overwhelming task to the senses. I can see and smell and hear things happening all over the place. There's a bunch of kids and a golden retriever playing soccer, their parents watch them play from their spots on laid out picnic blankets and quilts. Drinking beer and eating or checking their phones. A vendor in a red and white pinstriped uniform is making cotton candy at a portable stall. He expertly whips up a cone of pink, edible, sugar-spun cloud and gives it to a child accompanied by her mother. I hear a brass band start playing. Their conductor is waving his wand in sharp, excited motions. They're standing in front of the monument in the middle of the square. I lose focus as I listen to them play.

⚜️ So distracted, I accidentally run straight into a middle-aged woman sporting a Karen bob, a Louis Vouitton handbag, and a rather goofy glass of beer. The kind you'd buy as a gag at Disneyland or Sea World or Six Flags. Her drink spills all over me. A little splashes onto her hand bag. Immediately, the woman gets ANGRY as hell. She starts to yell at me, 'Excuse you?! That was a Lois Vouitton that you just ruined! Do you know how much that cost me?!'. (I don't actually, I'm not a fashion brands kind of person) Just as this woman is about to explode into a fit of rage, someone interrupts her...

⚜️ Mrs. Lockwood!! 😲 She strolls right out of the crowd, immediately commanding the Karen's respect by addressing the woman by her first & last name as if she made it her job to know every (living) person within Mystic Falls. I would've paid attention to what she'd called the woman if it were not for the man standing in attendance besides her... Elijah Mikaelson. My heart instantly drops into my stomach at the sight of him.

⚜️ Mrs. Lockwood asks the woman if 'there was a problem??' while Elijah pulls out a silk handkerchief and offers it to me as I've been trying/failing to dry myself off. It's a white & black handkerchief with his initials stitched elegantly into it with obsidian black thread. Elijah gives me an encouraging smile when I decline his offer and politely replies, "I insist," so I end up taking it. I wipe my face. Almost like I'm trying to wipe the disbelief from it as well.

Observation: He just rolled right up without any warning! I wasn't prepared for this and in fact, my DR is going SO off-script right now! I had tried to plan a quiet entrance into the Grill for my first day in Mystic Falls. Instead, I got a beer festival and hitting every branch on the main character tree! And this is only a few hours into my first day in town.

⚜️ In Elijah's presence, I feel weird... Almost like someone turned on a motor in my brain. There's a thrumming inside my chest and in my gut. It's electric. At the same time, it's a bit disconcerting. Z senses it. She gives the looming Elijah a weird look for it, too. At this point, I can't tell if it's my shock, Z's vampire hunting genes, or a combo of both that has us all tongue-tied in the Original's presence.

⚜️ Mrs. Lockwood's voice cuts in, shaking me (and my DR-self) out of our stupor. The Mayor is reassuring the outraged Karen that she's sure my colliding into her was just an honest accident. 'After all,' Mrs. Lockwood adds, 'Ms. Webb comes from a good family. I knew her father when she was small. Isn't that right, Zoey?'. Mrs. Lockwood beams at me with a kind of pride that I can't place or understand...

Observation: ...Especially considering that my scripted backstory included William W being more of a priah than anything else in Mystic Falls. I guess that's another 🚫 from my DR, lol.

⚜️ A wave of embarrassment comes over Z. I hear her chuckle and say, 'That was so long ago, Mrs. L. I'm surprised you remember me, haha...' and try to play it off casually. Mrs. L replies with a cheerful smile, 'Ohhh, it wasn't so long ago~' I think I might've inadvertently made her uncomfortable about her age? She seems pretty damn smitten with Elijah right now. Mrs. L turns to the Karen and gives the woman a dismissive, cold glare. 'Speaking of costs, let's talk later about your Garden Club membership, shall we??? You've been late on your club tributes despite the extension I've given you-'. The Karen looks mortified and is now apologizing to both Mrs. Lockwood and me. She slinks off immediately afterward like a banished demon.

⚜️ Meanwhile, I've been focusing on wiping the beer off and not paying attention to the Original who is standing mere inches away from me. Mrs. Lockwood turns to me after the Karen has left our presence & welcomes me back to Mystic Falls, then apologizes for that woman's behavior/the loss of my father. Z gets super awkward about this. She replies with a stumbling: 'It's alright. Weelllll, it's not alright. One of them is alright, one isn't. And I'm pretty sure I'm the one who ran into her. So, it's my fault-".

⚜️ Elijah interrupts Zoey. He says, 'I'm quite positive it was the other way around'. Z and I simultaneously glance at the vampire, tilting our head to the side.

Observation: Was he watching me? For how long was he watching me?? I didn't notice it at all. Was he the weird feeling I got when I'd first gotten off the bus?

⚜️ Mrs. Lockwood clicks into place, realizing that Elijah was just standing there without a proper introduction. She rectifies this almost immediately by saying, 'Ahh! Ms. Webb, this is my friend, Mr. Elijah Mikaelson. He's from the Historic Society in New Orleans'. Mrs. L smiles widely, seemingly quite pleased with herself. Elijah extends his hand to me as he replies, 'Yes, I'm here to study the history of Mystic Falls. Fascinating little town you have here...wouldn't you agree??'. He's responding to Mrs. Lockwood but staring directly at me. In this moment, to save face, I have to shake his hand. But inside Z, I'm like 😬 the whole time.

⚜️ Mrs. Lockwood puffs with pride at Elijah Mikaelson's comment. Z & I are unified when we weakly agree. Mrs. L asks how I'm doing, if I'm settling in, and whether or not the trip here went smoothly. I take over the dialogue for Z and say that the bus trip was relatively smooth but super long. And that handling all the property business is a bit overwhelming but at least I have Mr. Pogue and my father's lawyers to help me out. 'So things should be evening out soon!' Z adds in optimistically. I blink. I didn't think she was going to pipe up. Like before, I try to dip out of conversation & continue on my way to the Grill. 'Well, it was nice seeing you again, Mrs. Lockwood, but I don't want to keep you from anything...'

⚜️ 'Nonsense!' The Mayor exclaims, 'I always have time for a daughter of Mystic Falls.' But ironically, the moment those words leave her lips, Mrs. L sneaks a peek at her wristwatch and does a doubletake. She yelps, 'Ahh! The ribbon cutting!' & apologizes about speaking too soon. Mrs. Lockwood turns to Elijah and suggests that: 'Perhaps you & Mr. Mikaelson could get to know each other' in her absence and then tells Elijah that the Webbs are one of the more notable, famous families of the town. Elijah raises an eyebrow at me while I feel like I wanna evaporate into the cement. Mrs. Lockwood continues, oblivious, 'Maybe you can tell him some stories about Will and your ancestors?'.

⚜️ I try to say that I don't know much about my father/ancestors but Mrs. Lockwood has already power-walked away. I see her raising her hand up, calling someone over to her. I'm pretty sure it was "Linda" or "Leslie." It makes sense if it was Caroline's mother. But I'm not sure. Honestly? I was waaaaay more focused on the looming threat of Elijah who is staring (LOUDLY) at me.

⚜️ 'Webb...?' Elijah muses to himself aloud in a sultry purr (that I wish did not sound as hot as it did) then gazes at me more attentively. As if he's realized something. Then, a whole new expression comes over his face. Intrigue & curiosity. He asks me, 'Is that any relation to the Webbs of New Orleans?' in a polite yet unsettlingly interested way. I try to brush the question off lightly by giving him a shrug. 'I think? I'm not sure on the details. We were... Uh, textile merchants??? Or something way back in the when ago. Who can remember?' I laugh but it's strained. Z's heart is racing.

⚜️ That strange, surging, electric thrum hits me again. Only this time, it's much stronger than before. Again, I try to separate myself from the awkwardness by telling Elijah that I really gotta start heading out to get dinner & that it was a pleasure to meet him. I say this just as politely as he does, matching energy. But Elijah is one step ahead of me and keeps the conversation alive by suggesting that we get dinner together. His treat. And that he'd love the company. 🫠 I attempt to decline his offer again by saying that I couldn't possibly bother him on our first meeting by making a perfect stranger like him pay the bill. But he just smiles, replying with a wave of his hand, 'Oh, it would be my pleasure to treat you.' He follows that by telling me to consider it "fair payment" for my family's stories. He is, after all, researching Mystic Falls. Great. He's not going to let this one go...

⚜️ Z doesn't know how to respond to Elijah. I step in for her, lying directly to his face when I tell him to prepare for disappointment. And that 'I'm not well-versed in any of the Webb family's history'. I mention to Elijah that my dad didn't tell me much when he was alive. It was kind of his thing. Elijah chuckles. 'That's not an issue, Ms. Webb. I'd be happy to hear everything you do know; no matter how tiny or miniscule it is,' Elijah says with a refined & effortless politeness that is really getting on my nerves right now.

⚜️ I roll my eyes. I feel Zoey follow suit. She has the same opinion as me on this. As one, we both tell Elijah: 'don't blame me if the info you get isn't much' and that William kept his mysteries to himself. Even up to his very last days... Elijah just nods, unconcerned by this, and mentions to Z that he's known the type before and not to worry. Zoey softens at that comment while I'm shrieking loudly inside of her. I feel her smile at him and cheekily ask if that's an official deal. Elijah nods in response to this. 'Consider it a sealed deal, Ms. Webb. I'm interested nonetheless.'

⚜️ At this point, I feel my CR body flash the engine checklight, telling me that it's time to return back or suffer the consequences. And unless I want to permashift right now, I need to leave this scenario to play out for another trip. I catch a few after images when I get to my CR of Elijah Mikaelson gesturing for Z to follow him through the Square towards what I imagine will be the Mystic Grill. But my DR has tricked me before so who knows??? The next few days after this shift, I spent fully in blob mode. Like I had done a 6 day workout all condensed into 2 hours.

Side Note: The outfits I observed during this shift because now I'm noticing fashion...

Elijah Mikaelson: Robin's egg blue, button down work shirt with button-up sleeves & black work slacks, black leather shoes. I'm pretty sure they were Italian leather.

Elena Gilbert: Maroon/wine-colored tank top, black camisole. Dark red long sleeved hoodie with zippers on the ends. Skinny jeans & worn-out converse shoes. Silver locket with garnet stone embedded into it. Basically her outfit during S1, E10.

Caroline Forbes: White lace camisole with baby pink, baby doll shirt. Sleeves are cut to her mid-arms, exposing her wrists, and showing off her silver, charm bracelet. Short denim skirt & cute pink pumps. Her star tattoo can be seen. She's wearing a pair of star earrings and has silver glitter mascara on.

Mrs. Lockwood: Silk, woman's business shirt that's cream colored. Beige pencil skirt with a modest slit up the side. Pointed toe high heels. Also beige in color. Gold bangles around her wrists and white pearls around her neck. Wearing some sort of Chanel perfume????

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