@camillethebrave / camillethebrave.tumblr.com
❝ you’d be surprised what you can do, Camille. self doubt will be the only thing stopping you. ❞
“ --- oh no, you don’t get to try to use psychology on me of all people. I am thinking of simple physics: older vampires are stronger. Or was I lied to upon transitioning?”
MAAAANDY !!!
OH HEY
LEAH PIPES as CAMILLE O’CONNELL in The Originals
Elijah was aware when he was being watch and knew full well that Cami was looking at him. However, it wasn’t anything negative and he didn’t feel intruded upon and so he allowed it, without comment. It was only fair, given that he had looked at her in similar appreciation more than once. Once they were sitting and talking, he felt her relax, and consciously made an effort to do the same. They were just two….friends? Were they friends? Co-workers, perhaps, although that didn’t really apply to them either. They weren’t really working together, were they? Maybe they were in kahoots now or would be after this conversation. It was far more subtle than Klaus’s suggestion, which was simply to compel someone (Cami) to get the information they wanted. He didn’t think he needed to do that, really.
He could just ask nicely for Cami’s help, and he was certain Cami would not be against such a thing. And if she was, he’d find another way, again, without forcing her. He respected her. He liked her. He didn’t mind control people he liked. She did seem to notice the shift in the mood as he spoke about the humans in the quarter, and he was glad she didn’t immediately get defensive. “Your uncle has admirable goals. My intentions are simple, Camille. I want a foothold in the Quarter. I want allies within the human faction. They make up the majority of the population of this city but do no have the equivalent amount of say in how things are done or the way it is run. There are many policies that Marcellus has put into place that I do not agree with, that Niklaus does not agree with, but I am attempting to act as a better angel for my brother.
“I would do nothing to put you or your family into harm’s way, Camille. It does not suit me to see the human faction suffer. If there is anything I can do to help, I’d like to explore that. If it gains us an ally, should the need arise, then all the better.” He took a sip of his coffee, and allowed her to ponder for a moment. She was an intelligent woman, he knew that. Surely she could see where this would be beneficial.
Coffee with a side of politics it seemed.
Camille couldn’t be quite sure what was going on in Elijah’s mind. She was beginning to understand how Klaus’ worked --- it was driven by emotion, by a past that had cut him so deeply that he refused to let it heal properly. With Elijah, she only had sparse pieces of things to stitch together. For instance, his outward appearance of the buttoned up put together one --- that spoke to her, she just wasn’t completely sure why yet (but she wanted to find out; more than she was willing to admit aloud at the moment). She wondered if this had been his plan all along --- lull her with the promise of conversation that didn’t involve confessions of murder and hot coffee.
She had to give him credit for it.
“I feel like you may be having this conversation with the wrong person. I know if Uncle Kieran had his way, I would be far away from here, clueless as to the realities that New Orleans exist under,” she pointed out. Her uncle wouldn’t want to her anywhere near the the so called human faction even if she felt the ever increasing need to step in and help. After all, she was one of them. She was human and she had nearly died because of what was going on in this city. Therefore shouldn’t she have a say?
“But I am not going to argue with you that it feels as if us humans are pinned in by everything else going on around us. I know I would prefer to have more equal footing.” She looked at him, with his promise that he would not put the O’Connells in harms way in his pursuit of allyship. “But if you would like, I can speak with my uncle, make him see that right now our voice is getting lost --- and that you would like to listen. Although, you claim pure intentions, I have to wonder if you are taking this route as some sort of message to your brother or Marcel. You’re not trying to use us to get a leg up on them, are you?” She felt she needed to ask it because she was no longer talking to Elijah, the mysterious man she was drawn to but a Mikaelson, who had a vested interest in what went on in the Quarter.
The amusement that etched itself into the Hybrid’s features was all too apparent as he offered a shrug in response, the practiced nonchalance emanating from him the entire time he eyed Camille. “A good author knows his audience.” He commented before taking another sip of his drink. “Life is far more interesting when you do not know what lurks beyond the next corner; I certainly did not anticipate meeting you on my fateful sojourn to the French Quarter.” He indicated, which was entirely the truth: never did he expect to connect with someone in his kingdom–especially that of a human–but here they were, drinking bourbon in a pseudo-psycho analysis of the world’s oldest madman. Life was certainly strange.
That nonchalance gave way to what appeared to be a glimpse of relief–vulnerability, even–in Camille’s reassurance. He concealed it quickly, glancing away from her and forcing a smile as the portraits on the far wall suddenly became so fascinating to him; almost as if he hadn’t seen those same portraits for two hundred years at the very least! “It seems we’ve established you like your life; how lovely for you.” He commented, gaze slowly, yet inevitably averting back to hers. “I shall make it my goal to continue to be one of those bumps.” He remarked, reckoning he was one of the larger ones present–perhaps even the largest. That did a number for his ego. “Did we just reach an accord on the title? Pinch me, I must be dreaming!” He remarked, hand over his heart in feigned shock.
“Ah, so this whole time I have been studying you, you have been doing the same in return. I am not sure I like it,” she teased quietly. There was some truth to her words. It was a bit unnerving to consider that he might have analyzing her when she was supposed to be doing the same to him. She never thought of herself as someone worthy of such attention, especially from a man like him. He had seen so many things (both awe inspiring and heartbreaking) and she stood out? Part of her wondered if he was only saying such things because he knew that she couldn’t help but be flattered. “But you think it would have happened no matter what? Us meeting --- isn’t that what you once said?” I would have found you. She thought on that moment more than she was willing to admit. “But yes, life certainly took an unexpected. I came here looking for answers...” For Sean, for her own peace of mind. “...and instead I found myself with a whole new set of questions.”
She gave him a look, her attempt at a withering stare when facing down a creature such as him. “Am I not allowed to enjoy my life?” she challenged. He had cast himself correctly --- a bump in the road. There was a part of her, the logical part, that urged her to move over it and move past it. But she knew already that she wasn’t going to do that. “I can agree with you on some things, Klaus. Turns out it is not quite the hardship you make it out to be. Maybe you should try it more often. You’ll find things go much more smoothly --- or do you enjoy doing everything the hard way?”
Sorry I am once again in slow mode! Replies will come soon!
there is an energy in the air , menacing and cruel ; it's tainted by death and the results of her own misdeeds . sunlight streams in through nearby window of the compound ; setting auburn tendrils ablaze . cerulean hues fixate upon the blonde , slight uptick of lips as she smiles , but it isn't her usual contentment that colors freckled features . rather , it was much more sinister . " _ cami , what a pleasant surprise ! " hand gestures emphatically to the side . " . . . afraid you missed one hell of a party . " / @camillethebrave
A room full of landmines, that was what she was stepping into. Not one to be dissuaded by anything, Cami moved forward. Her muscles were coiled as if she were expecting to have to defend herself but her mind was moving in other ways. She was not here to engage in a fight she could not win. She was here to help. A tall order given what lay before her but that didn’t mine she wouldn’t try. It wasn’t in her to give up. “I can see that,” she began quietly, surveying the rest of the room before her gaze fell back to Hope. “Just so everything is in the open, your father suggested I come. I told him you wouldn’t appreciate it yet here I am. I am only telling you because I don’t want you to think I have some sort of ulterior motive.”
Promise to get to replies/memes here and on Cami soon! Tomorrow is the last day of my work week. My brain tends to get too sleepy to function by this time of night.
“Oh, he told you that did he? Of course he did. As you can imagine, I’m a real fan of that nickname. Hard to make a good first impression when you have to lead with that,” Stefan rolled his eyes, and gestured for another shot. “I mostly just go by Stefan now,” He grinned. “My time with Klaus was not really a period of personal growth. I’m here to figure out if I actually like him or not. I’m staying with them but I’ve been considering getting my own place. I think Klaus likes having me on hand to pay attention to him when he’s bored. I don’t mind, as long as he’s not throwing a tantrum. I know how to handle him, mostly, which is more than I can say for most people.”
“He told me a great many things --- some of which I wish I could forget,” she explained, wrinkling her nose as a few key examples came to mind. “But no worries, I won’t hold it against you.” She poured him another shot and then one for herself. She toyed with the glass for a second, and then downed it in one foul swoop. “How is that going by the way? Deciding if you like him or not. It took me awhile to figure that out myself. But don’t fooled. He is good at putting on an act but I think deep down he is very happy to have you here. He just can’t actually say that because he tends to clam up on that sort of thing.”
open starter for mutuals //
❝ now, we both know you can do better than that. ❞
“I am not going to be able to move you. You’re a 1000 year old fossil.”
LEAH PIPES as Camille O’Connell in The Originals 1x04: Girl in New Orleans
Remember to specify muse for multi-muse blogs!
The amusement that etched itself into the Hybrid’s features was all too apparent as he offered a shrug in response, the practiced nonchalance emanating from him the entire time he eyed Camille. “A good author knows his audience.” He commented before taking another sip of his drink. “Life is far more interesting when you do not know what lurks beyond the next corner; I certainly did not anticipate meeting you on my fateful sojourn to the French Quarter.” He indicated, which was entirely the truth: never did he expect to connect with someone in his kingdom–especially that of a human–but here they were, drinking bourbon in a pseudo-psycho analysis of the world’s oldest madman. Life was certainly strange.
That nonchalance gave way to what appeared to be a glimpse of relief–vulnerability, even–in Camille’s reassurance. He concealed it quickly, glancing away from her and forcing a smile as the portraits on the far wall suddenly became so fascinating to him; almost as if he hadn’t seen those same portraits for two hundred years at the very least! “It seems we’ve established you like your life; how lovely for you.” He commented, gaze slowly, yet inevitably averting back to hers. “I shall make it my goal to continue to be one of those bumps.” He remarked, reckoning he was one of the larger ones present–perhaps even the largest. That did a number for his ego. “Did we just reach an accord on the title? Pinch me, I must be dreaming!” He remarked, hand over his heart in feigned shock.
“Oh is that it? You know me, Klaus,” she began, feeling a little thrill. She was about to do a little prodding of her own, a bit of insight as to just what he thought when it came to her. She tilted her head a little, gave him a look. “Explain me than. Tell me what you know.” She realized that she had opened herself up to any potential answer but thus far, Klaus had been kind (more than kind) so she just had to know how he saw her. What did she look like through his eyes? “Well, the first meeting was a complete stroke of luck --- the rest of it, a bit of luck, a bit of compulsion, a bit of me sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong. No one said our history was a smooth one.” And she doubted it would be smooth going forward. Oh, he would never invade her mind the way he had but other things would prick their temper. In the end, she hoped that no matter what happened they would come back to moments just like this.
“I think my enjoyment of my life bodes well for our continued collaboration. If I was miserable I would be long gone by now.” She had come here in misery, wanting to know why and how Sean had done what he had done. She had that answer and while it didn’t erase the grief she felt when she thought of her brother, it helped her be at peace. If anything else unsettled that sense of peace she would walk away. She had done it before, she could do it again (although she had to admit this time the stakes felt so much higher, this time she wondered if she would struggle to take those steps). “I don’t think you’ll have too much trouble with your quest, although I think I am used to your machinations by now.” She gave him another look, this one decidedly teasing. “And we have reached an agreement. Now I just need to start writing. I suppose I could dig up the remnants of your biography. Build my case study off its back.”
“Okay if they’re still like humans, then they definitely still have souls,” Buffy said. “So, I can’t kill them…..unless they were psychotic serial killers….and how bad are we talking?”
Buffy couldn’t see anything not to like about Cami. She clearly had a kind heart and an open mind. Buffy hadn’t really made any friends in New Orleans. If she was only going to have one friend here, she was glad it was someone like her. “Is this family the Corleones or something?” Buffy couldn’t help making a Godfather joke.
Buffy laughed and covered her face with her hand at Cami’s reaction to Spike’s name. “Yeah, I know,” she said. “He liked to torture his victims with railroad spikes. He’s also known as William the Bloody. He was pretty….let’s put it this way: he’s the second most dangerous vampire ever recorded.” Buffy’s smile had faded at this point. She’d known Spike for eight years and he’d come so far from the monster she’d met. Talking about his past felt like she was spitting on it.
@camillethebrave
“They’ve killed people, I won’t lie.” She wondered what she was doing, defending the Mikaelsons given how she had been pulled into their orbit in the first place. She was far too intwined to give an honest answer. She could only give one that had been influenced by everything that had happened since. “You could call them the Corleones. It’s not that far off...they have power here. You are going to hear their names if you stick around.” She would also hear how the family had gotten to that power.
It was messy --- and it would make Buffy question things, Cami was sure.
Although, it was clear that Buffy had her own questionable moments. “Wow, okay, so...do you have a type or was this just one of those attractions you could not ignore?” she asked, genuinely curious.
I want an AU where all the vampires/werewolves/witches have to deal with Cami as the head of the human faction.
Because she could do a damn good job.
Klaus narrowed his leer at the Brave Bartender, fingers rapping rhythmically against his glass as he considered her statement. “You’re mistaken.” He began, though he took a sip of his bourbon before continuing. “Never has there been a cycle in which a mortal has perplexed and bewitched me so–certainly not one courageous enough to attempt to dissect my psyche and face certain death with such stoicism. No, Camille: there has never been a cycle quite like this before; I reckon the previous ones were experienced, endured, and suffered in preparation for the inevitable…” He held her stare for several moments before indulging her question. “If I spoiled the middle, climax, and ending, the story would no longer be worth reading, no? Stick around and uncover that mystery for yourself.” He kept it vague if only to keep her hooked.
After another sip, he grinned, glancing up at the ceiling as he settled back comfortably, his boots cozily crossed on top of the coffee table. “While my ego is undoubtedly ravenous for gratitude, no, you needn’t bother. Simply share in a drink and conversation with me, nothing more.” Another leer was sent her way, the questions never-ending. “Inquisitive as usual, Camille.” It was neither an answer nor a denial. “Admittedly, I’ll be beside myself at the loss of such company.” The grin returned, his stare unwavering as it honed in on Camille. He considered the title, humming thoughtfully, head tilting side to side. “Hmm, simple, yet effective. An intriguing basis…” He considered his own input in silence. “Is this to be a nature vs. nurture case study? Perhaps ‘Delusions of Grandeur: The Duality of the Devil’?” He suggested, making it grander than it would have been as he envisioned the book, his hands in the air. “Thoughts?”
She thought she had been clever, thought she had caught him in his own game and twisted his words back on him. Instead, he stole her move and ran with it. She sat there silently, her mouth slightly agape as he described the role she played in his life. Never been a cycle quite like this before. She took that in and tried not to react. A failed attempt because she found herself tearing her gaze from his to look at her hands. Was he being serious? He said it --- a mere mortal. How could she possibly live up to what he was saying? Her brows furrowed together and she faced him once again. “I see what you’re doing --- buttering me up, promising me a glorious ending that I just have to stick around to see...” She pressed her lips together. “Maybe I will. After all, curiosity is one of my most notable character flaws.”
He didn’t answer her question directly and that was all she needed to know. He didn’t want to let her go (and in truth she didn’t want to be let go; she would have held on with a death grip had he tried). “I am not asking you to worry about such a loss,” she told him quietly, giving away her current position on the matter. “So you needn’t worry about it coming to life. I like my life. Yes, there are bumps --- some of them larger than others but I like my life.” She had never seen this happening but how could have she? How could have she predicted what was out there beyond what her mind could see? Still, there is very little she would change. “I think your title works --- speaks to both the power and paranoia of its subject.”
