puppy love } { of negotiations and promises

[impetere]

Stiles: I'm taking that as a yes then.

Hayley: I'll probably be fine. Marcel isn't going to leave Hope an orphan.

Stiles: He's not the only person in New Orleans. I'm your partner, Hayley. You can't take Freya or Rebecca without getting into problems, but I'm a nobody who can take care of himself in a supernatural danger zone.

Hayley: Marcel may not be the only person there, but he runs the town. I'm going right to him, and going right home.

Stiles: [sighs] If this was anyone else, you know you'd send backup.

Hayley: Yeah, I would, but this is my home, and my problem to solve. I don't think bringing in an outsider will help me here.

Stiles: I can stay on the outskirts of town at the welcome to New Orleans sign. You can call or text me a codeword for me to come in. like bananas.

Hayley: [sucks in a deep breath] Fine. But you don't move until I say so.

Stiles: Yes ma'am.

Hayley: I'll pick you up in thirty minutes.

Stiles: I'll be downstairs waiting. [and he will send Cora a quick text that he needs to take a work trip with Hayley to New Orleans but will be back soon]

Hayley: [and she will text him back telling him to be careful, and Hayley will pick them up and off they go to New Orleans! About halfway there, she switches seats with Stiles and calls Marcel]

Marcel: [and he is enjoying a leisurely morning with some coffee and the view of his city. When he looks at the phone, he will close his eyes, debating about not answering it. But he does] Hayley.

Hayley: Can we meet?

Marcel: Depends on what you need.

Hayley: I want to make a deal for Klaus.

Marcel: Not happening

Hayley: Will you at least hear me out? You don't know what I have to offer.

Marcel: You think you have something to offer me that is greater than keeping Klaus Mikaelson under lock and key for eternity?

Hayley: I don't know. Maybe. But if you ever want a relationship with my daughter, at all, one dinner where you at least pretend to want to work with me won't kill you, right? [there's a soft sigh as she rubs her eyes] I don't want to discuss this over the phone.

Marcel: [he took a moment to think about it] Not in the city. I don't want wind of you being here to get out.

Hayley: Fine. Then where?

Marcel: There's a diner just off the interstate. Meet me there.

Hayley: The one just ahead of the bayou?

Marcel: That's the one. How far out of the city are you? [because he hears the car engine]

Hayley: About an hour, give or take?

Marcel: I'll be there in an hour then.

Hayley: Okay. I'll see you then. [and then she'll hang up and lean back in the seat] Get off here and head towards the Gulf.

Stiles: [and he makes the adjustments easy] At least he's willing to meet.

Hayley: He still cares about Hope. And I'm not blind to why he's angry with Klaus. But that doesn't mean I'm going to let him be Marcel's prisoner for the next thousand years.

Stiles: Yeah. I just... Scott laid into me pretty hard this morning about being a part of all this. He's scared for Elena.

Hayley: I don't blame her. He did a lot of horrible things to her and the people she loved.

Stiles: Yeah, and if they decided to again, guess who they'd start with? And if they even try, you and I are going to have a lot of words. [he gives her a sidelong look] Many of those words being four letters long.

Hayley: Which is why I'm willing to give Elena her deal. Because as much as Klaus is my family, and Hope's family, I get the risk.

Stiles: What about the other siblings?

Hayley: I have a feeling that Elena would rather make a deal with Elijah herself. Rebekah's moved on. The only real wildcard is Kol, which is kind of deserved because her brother did kill him once, but I think we can talk him down.

Stiles: You do know when push comes to shove, Scott is like a brother to me, and family comes first.

Hayley: I do. And if Klaus' family tries to go after Elena, I will be the first in line to stop them.

Stiles: [nods, and they are pulling off the interstate now] Even Klaus if it's to help Hope?

Hayley: Elena Gilbert may be a lot of things, but she's not heartless. If Klaus asked for her help like a sane person because my daughter was in trouble, she would do whatever she could to help.

Stiles: That is if he asks her like a sane person

Hayley: He's better than he used to be. Hopefully he's learning from his mistakes. [there's a beat] Besides, Elena can't be a doppelganger anymore. Not after she took the cure.

Stiles: I know, but that doesn't mean she can't be used in other ways.

Hayley: I know. Trust me, I don't want to be using anyone anymore. I just hope they listen to me.

Stiles: Fingers crossed.

Hayley: [and she'll be quiet the rest of the ride, until she spots the diner] Here. This is the place.

Stiles: [and he will pull into the parking lot] I'll stay in the car. Just bring me back some burger and fries.

Hayley: Will do. [she turns and points to where Marcel is sitting in one of the windows] That's us. [and she'll call his phone and put it on speaker] Hit mute on your phone.

Stiles: [which he will do] Remember, bananas.

Hayley: Bananas. [and with that she will get inside, make her way calmly through the diner, and slide in next to Marcel]

Marcel: [looks at the car, then her] Chauffeur or backup?

Hayley: Definitely one, possibly the other depending on how this goes.

Marcel: [nods] Have a seat. I already ordered us some drinks.

Hayley: [she nods as she slides into the booth] So here's the deal. I want my family back. You want to win. I'm here to offer a compromise that will hopefully let us both do that.

Marcel: I don't want to win - I already have. I want to keep my city safe and my people safe. We've had that already for five years. So how is your family more important than the people of New Orleans and their safety?

Hayley: They're not. But I don't want New Orleans, Marcel. That city can rot for all I care. You guys can do whatever you want. I just want Klaus. And you'll be able to keep your peace because Klaus won't be able to strike back.

Marcel: What about Elijah? Kol? Freya? You get the same promise from them. I've already heard that Rebekah has woken up.

Hayley: Freya has too. And she's left you alone so far, hasn't she? [she raises her eyebrows at him and takes a deep breath] And I think they'll have bigger things to worry about because in order to get Elijah and Kol back I have to get Klaus to agree to take the cure.

Marcel: [smirks] I knew I liked that Lockwood kid.

Hayley: It's not him. It's Elena Gilbert.

Marcel: The doppelganger?

Hayley: [she nods] She's the only one who could convince Tyler to help, and her condition is that Klaus has to take the cure. He'll just be a normal werewolf, and can live his life with our daughter, and that's it. Once you take the cure, you can't be turned back into a vampire again.

Marcel: And you don't think Freya won't look for a loophole on that?

Hayley: I'll make sure she doesn't.

Marcel: See, that I don't see happening. After what she did to Davina, I don't see her caring about any deal you make with me.

Hayley: You know, she didn't do that because she wanted to hurt you. She made a choice to put our lives, my life, my daughter's life, over that of the dead. And I'm sorry, Marcel, but Davina was already dead. Did she deserve it? No. Did I wish I could fix it? Every damn day, and believe it or not, so does she. But Freya's not stupid. If Klaus being human keeps her family together, she'll take it. She doesn't care about immortality. She just wants her family.

Marcel: Yeah, well funny how that idea of family fluxes when it's convenient to them. Remember that I was family too. Elijah still ripped my heart out.

Hayley: And he came home and collapsed in front of me in regret and grief. [her face softens a bit as she looks at him] Just because they're a thousand years old, doesn't mean they're incapable of mistakes. But Elijah can't atone for any of it if he's stuck in a magical coma for the rest of eternity. And you must not want him dead that badly if you knew where I was this whole time and never came for him. [she's not dumb enough to think that Marcel didn't know what they did]

Marcel: I don't need him dead to have what I want. He can't hurt me now, and with Klaus where he is, we're all better off. And if you really thought about it, you'd realize that Hope is much better off far from him.

Hayley: [her face crumples a bit and she buries her face in her hands] I don't want her to be me, Marcel. I don't want her to have to make the choice to do terrible things to find her family. I don't want her to grow up hating you for keeping her father from her. And for better or worse? He's her father. They're her family. Just like the Crescent Wolves were mine. And she has this magic that I don't understand, but Freya and Kol do. So I need them. I need Elijah and Rebekah and I need Klaus. So please. I'm begging you. How much longer do we have to do this? Isn't there a compromise somewhere? Besides, even if he was awake, he couldn't hurt you now. You're the unkillable one, remember?

Marcel: Like I said, I'm sure Freya is going to look for ways around it. And I was raised by him, remember? I know what kind of father he is, and Hope deserves better. [thinks] You want a compromise? Fine. Klaus AND Elijah take the cure.

Hayley: [she takes a deep breath, and there's a long moment of silence before she nods. it's not exactly what she wanted, but if it's what it takes, then fine] I'll work on convincing Elijah when I get back to DC. Will you take me to Klaus so I can convince him?

Marcel: No. [sighs] But I'll skype you when I get back so you can talk to him over that and see each other.]he's not going to give up the location where he has Klaus held]

Hayley: Fine. Me and my backup will find somewhere to camp for the night so we're not driving when you call.

Marcel: Sounds good. Talk to you again in a few hours.

Hayley: [she nods, before flagging down the waitress with a small smile] Burger and fries to go, please.

Marcel: [and he will leave money for his beer and head out]

Hayley: [and she will collect the food for Stiles before hanging up the phone and making her way out again]

Stiles: [and he will get out and stretch for a bit as she's coming back] Well, that went better than expected.

Hayley: What were you expecting?

Stiles: Refusals, threats, growling.

Hayley: Marcel comes from the Elijah Mikaelson school of negotiation - apply the right leverage and you'll usually wind up with what you want.

Stiles: [rests his hands on top of the car and looks at her] You really think you can convince them both, plus convince Freya not to magic herself a loophole for them?

Hayley: Freya's not stupid enough to cross Marcel twice. If he gives her Klaus back as a gesture of goodwill, she won't look a gifthorse in the mouth. [there's going to be a fight about it, for sure, but Freya will come around. Rebekah will help, and be annoyed at the same time because of course her brothers, who likely don't want to be human, will get to do so, and she won't]

Stiles: [she could if she wanted] How much of this cure is there out there anyway? Because maybe it would be better for all of them to just become human and start a real life again.

Hayley: The cure is Elena's blood. So if we want to ideally keep Elena alive in the process? Not a whole lot. But, the upside is that once one of them is cured, they also become the cure. That being said - that's a really dangerous proposition right now, and I don't know if we should do that unless there's a guarantee that Marcel would truly back off for good. I mean, they'd all be witches again, and Freya could make moonlight rings for me and Klaus but there'd only be so much we could do against some of the older, more powerful vampires out there. Never mind we don't know what will happen to Elijah and Rebekah's lines if they get cured.

Stiles: Well, technically they are dead now, right?

Hayley: No, they're not. And people likely know that too, because Elijah and Rebekah's vampire lines are still walking around.

Stiles: Didn't someone do a thing to sever Klaus from his line? Could they do that to the others?

Hayley: The witch who did it is dead, and they'd need my heart. Since I'd like to keep it beating in my chest, that's a no.

Stiles: [licks his lips] Well, let's find a place to crash and get a shower and call our kids. We can talk out ideas later.

Hayley: [she nods, and they will go off to do just that]

Stiles: [and he will go to call Cora while Hayley takes her shower]

Cora: [takes a deep breath as she answers] Hey.

Stiles: Hey. So you won't believe how crappy this motel is. I think the wallpaper is older than my dad

Cora: [she wrinkles her nose] All that covert budget and you couldn't afford someplace with wifi?

Stiles: No but I'm pretty sure I get a free tetanus shot from this trip.

Cora: Fun.

Stiles: So how are you guys?

Cora: We're good. Just hanging out watching a movie with Malia.

Stiles: Anything good?

Cora: Malia picked, so it was Lilo and Stitch.

Stiles: Why am I not surprised?

Cora: It's her favorite movie.

Stiles: At least it's not the Incredibles again.

Cora: Eh, that one's not so bad either. At least he's not trying to get me to let him watch horror movies.

Stiles: Save those for his aunt Laura nights.

Cora: That's what worries me.

Stiles: As long as she's good with making sure he knows that it's a movie and not real so that he can disseminate fiction from reality, it will actually be a good thing for him in the long run to learn to deal with things like that

Cora: Not saying that she's not careful but how are horror movies good for that, exactly?

Stiles: Teaches you how to cope with scary things in life. Builds courage and helps with the mind's response in the fight or flight patterns.

Cora: It can also desensitize you to some things and spreads a lot of information about things that really aren't that scary. There are other ways do your side that don't result in mine.

Stiles: Yeah, but you can't protect him from it forever either. And you have to trust Laura not to let him watch things that would spread that bad information.

Cora: I do. It's not Laura I'm worried about. [it's people who don't know better]

Stiles: Then who are you worried about? Because right now movie consumption falls onto us and family for the most part.

Cora: The internet. Because while yes, his exposure is limited because he's seven, he does have human friends who's parents are less stringent and don't know better.

Stiles: Okay, but with us doing it at home to teach him the difference he will be less likely to be affected by the internet and friends’ movies. If he knows zombies, for instance, are fiction and the chance of a brain killing zombie disease being created and then unleashed on the world is less than 0.01 percent, he won't be affected by things like Walking Dead.

Cora: [and there's a long pause]

Stiles: I can do this part of the parenting if you want. That way you can be the comforter because yeah, he'll have nightmares, but he will need to learn to deal with nightmares too like we do every day. It'll make him a healthier minded adult.

Cora: Zombies aren't as unlikely as you think, Stiles. Just not in the way movies usually make them.

Stiles: ........... Um, okay that's a new one for me.

Cora: Ask Rebekah about Les Morts-Vivants coven from New Orleans sometime. But this is my point. [she sighs] I just want to wait until he's older, and he understands the supernatural a little more. Believe me, if he winds up being a werewolf, he's going to be learning all the things you're mentioning anyway. He doesn't necessarily need horror movies.

Stiles: [rubs at his eyes] Cora, I'm not going to argue about something like this. We can come back to it if and when he gets exposed to it.

Cora: Okay. [she didn't want to fight about it in the first place, but it doesn't help that she didn't feel like she was being heard either]

Stiles: [he doesn't feel it either, and he sighs] I knoew you've been doing this longer, Cora. I'm just trying.

Cora: It's not about who's been doing it longer, Stiles. [she takes a deep breath and moves further into the apartment, closing her bedroom door behind her] It's about growing up and seeing people who are supposed to be like you and only seeing out of control monsters or other misconceptions. It's ... disorienting, and can make some things harder rather than easier. I'm not an idiot, I know that there's things that he's going to have to learn to deal with, especially in the world we live in, but I don't want him to start out scared of what he could become before he's even had his first full moon.

Stiles: I think he has more than enough role models to dissuade him from any werewolf misconceptions, Cora.

Cora: I know. [there's a pause as she lies back on the bed] But it's not exactly easy to think about this being how the world sees you either.

Stiles: And yet he sees everyday that you can lead a perfectly normal life, work a job, fall in love all from your example.

Cora: [and there's a deep breath, because still not getting it.] Just ... never mind.

Stiles: Where am I missing the disconnect to you here because I hear the frustration in your voice, and I'm trying to respond to what you're saying to me.

Cora: It isn't about him understanding what a werewolf like him really is that I'm worried about. When my mom was teaching me about being a werewolf, I never questioned what we were or how I would be able to live my life. But when I saw American Werewolf in Paris at Jackson's house when I was twelve, it's still alienating to realize that if I had told any of them that I was a werewolf right then, that's the kind of thing they would be expecting, and they would look at me differently, even though they've known me since we were five. I just ... I want him to wait until he's a little more secure in who he is first. Its harder when you're not. And I know it's not feasible or that I might be naive for having those expectations, but I can still try.

Stiles: Okay. But do you think that if you had seen that movie first with say, Laura, and she made fun of how wrong it was with you - when you say it at 12 with them, instead of feeling alienated, you could have made fun of it and fact checked the mythology in nerd fashion instead of being afraid of what others would think of you? Because I saw all kinda of scary werewolf movies as a kid and I never once was scared of you. I was curious and wanted to learn.

Cora: Yeah, but you're you and you grew up in Beacon Hills, and you still threw every werewolf stereotype in the book at me when we were talking about it. No matter how well meaning you are about it - it's still frustrating. I know he'll have to learn, and I know he'll have Hope and Baal to help him. But he's also a sensitive kid, so I just want to wait a little while longer, okay?

Stiles: Okay. We'll wait.

Cora: Thank you.

Stiles: And you know I don't think you're an idiot, right?

Cora: No, I know. It's just sometimes you get that well meaning tone that the school guidance counselor does with me sometimes, and I'm pretty sure [she] thinks I'm an idiot.

Stiles: [chuckles] I'm sorry. But Cora - I also don't want Ben to grow up scared of himself either to the point where he only looks to Hope and Baal for friendship if he becomes a werewolf. [because that was what she did, and he doesn't want his son to hide inside of himself]

Cora: No, I don't want that either, but your first full moon is a scary thing, and I don't want him to think it's wrong to be scared at first either. Finding that balance is the part Laura's actually really good at. But he's not a werewolf yet, so ... one step at a time.

Stiles: Sure.

Cora: I also don't mean to imply that you don't know what you're talking about with the nightmares and stuff, I just ... know that that stuff is coming. I don't want to rush him into it.

Stiles: And I just don't want him to be overwhelmed when it does come if he can learn how to prepare himself for parts of it now that can be related to human things if not werewolf specific things.

Cora: I get it. [sighs] Maybe we can talk about it more when you get back home.

Stiles: Yeah, we can do that.

Cora: Okay.

Stiles: I should be home tomorrow.

Cora: Everything going okay?

Stiles: Yeah, so far. It's just sitting in a car or a room watching.

Cora: Sounds pretty boring.

Stiles: It is, but I get fed so I'm good.

Cora: That's good at least. Be safe, okay?

Stiles: Will do. Love you.

Cora: Love you too.

Stiles: [and he will hang up and flop back on his bed because co-parenting is hard]

Hayley: [yes it is. and since Hayley heard most of that, she makes her way over with a slight smirk] You guys are already way better at this than me and Klaus were. You managed to make it through that conversation without any bloodshed.

Stiles: Probably because we're a few states apart. [looks over at her] You sure you want Klaus back in the picture again?

Hayley: [she takes a deep breath as she drops down on her bed] Yeah. Because it's the only way that stands a chance of Marcel and Hope being in a god place one day. They can't be family if he's holding her dad captive for the next thousand years. That comment Marcel made about being an example of the pitfalls of being raised by Klaus isn't entirely off base, but it's not entirely right either. Marcel is a good guy who does good things and I want Hope to be able to see that. But she won't if the first thing she knows about him is that he's keeping her dad from her.

Stiles: I'll give you that one.

Hayley: And Klaus may be a lot of things but ... he loves that little girl. He sacrificed five years with her in order to keep his family safe. He could have been with his daughter, but instead he was being tortured, and I have to make that right.

Stiles: I guess.

Hayley: [she takes a deep breath] I wouldn't expect anyone to really get it, given the kind of people the Mikaelsons are, but ... they're my family. They're the only family I've ever really had.

Stiles: You've got me.

Hayley: You're a recent development.

Stiles: I know, but you have me.

Hayley: I know. But I was alone for a really long time. When I got knocked up with Klaus' kid and the French Quarter Coven decided I would make great leverage, they could have left me to die and they didn't. As much as I wish I could turn it off ... I need them.

Stiles: You know I just don't want to see you or Hope get hurt in all this, right? Because while I'm new, it doesn't mean I care less.

Hayley: Yeah, I know.

Stiles: Plus I'm pretty sure Ben would be heartbroken if Hope left town.

Hayley: Yeah, I'm trying to avoid that too. Plus Freya's getting a bit attached to his uncle.

Stiles: ..... Wait, what now? Freya and Peter?

Hayley: Oh yeah. I didn't tell you this?

Stiles: No you did not!

Hayley: They've been spending a lot of time together. She's given him permission to bypass the protection spells she put on her house.

Stiles: Really now? I'll have to check with Cora and see if she knows anything.

Hayley: If she knows more than I do, let me know.

Stiles: Will do.

Hayley: [and she will sigh and lean back against the bed, closing her eyes until Marcel calls]

Marcel: [and eventually he will call when he is done with business for the day. When the screen connects, Hayley will see darkness behind him as Marcel is working to conceal the location image]

Hayley: [sighs as she sits up, and all he can see is he terrible wallpaper] Well?

Marcel: Just be aware he's not fully lucid so if he rambles, it's just a side effect of the blade. [and he will go to put the phone in the holder he secured on the other side of the magical barrier, making sure the image is just of Klaus and none of the magic]

Hayley: [and when she sees him, her face softens in response] Klaus?

Klaus: [and he looks up, knowing Marcel was talking about Hayley but now he hears her voice] Hayley?

Hayley: [she gives him a small, sad smile as she nods] Hey.

Klaus: Is that really you? Things down here like to whisper to me in the voices of others.

Hayley: No, it's me. I'm not physically there, though. I'm just on the phone.

Klaus: [and his eyes will focus on her] A cell phone? The first contact in years and I must suffer it on the smallest screen possible?

Marcel: Hey, be grateful I'm letting you have it.

Hayley: Klaus, focus on me, okay? We don't have a whole lot of time to talk. I have to get back to Hope. [she hopes that mentioning his daughter will focus him more]

Klaus: Hope. How is she? She's not there, is she? Seeing her father like this...

Hayley: No. She's back in DC with your sisters. She's good. [there's a small smile] She has a lot of saved up artwork to give you.

Klaus: She's an artist. [smiles at that, then looks up at her, laser eye focus] Freya and Rebecca are awake?

Hayley: Yeah. We're still working on Elijah and Kol, but we ran into a bit of a snag.

Klaus: What kind of snag?

Hayley: The last piece of the cure we need is in the hands of Tyler Lockwood.

Klaus: That is easy. Just find him and take it from him.

Hayley: No. I'm not doing it that way anymore. [she sighs] Elena Gilbert said she'd be willing to talk him into it, but she has a condition, and it's a condition, when met with Marcel's condition, that could mean we get you back sooner rather than later.

Klaus: And just what does Elena Gilbert think we should do?

Hayley: She wants you to take the cure. [and there it is] And Marcel has agreed that if you and Elijah both take it, he'll let you go.

Klaus: What cure is this?

Hayley: The cure. The cure for immortality.

Klaus: The cure for immortality is death.

Hayley: Is that a metaphor or just you being melodramatic?

Marcel: There's a difference?

Hayley: [to Marcel] Not helping. [back to Klaus] The one that Silas had and you sister went into the mountains to find all those years ago? That's the cure I'm referring to.

Klaus: So to become human again. Or in my case a werewolf where I would once again be a victim of the cycle of the moon?

Hayley: I'm sure Freya can make you a moonlight ring.

Klaus: [looks over at Marcel] Andyou swear that I do this and you will release me.

Marcel: You and Elijah. I don't trust him to not become your bulldog just because you lost your immortality.

Hayley: I'm going to work on Elijah when I get home. [because Marcel is right]

Klaus: [because there are a lot of ways this can still go, and he's not all that fond of losing his power. But he wants to be with his family and see his daughter again] If Elijah agrees, then I will consider it.

Hayley: [exhales slowly] Then I will let you both know what Elijah says.

Marcel: That's that then. [and he goes to reach for the phone]

Hayley: I'll see you soon. [because she will]

Klaus: Tell Hope that I love her.

Hayley: I will.

Marcel: I'll be waiting for your call, Hayley. [and the phone will disconnect]

Hayley: [and there'll be a deep breath as she lets the phone drop, exhaling slowly]

Stiles: [looking up from his phone] So I wasn't supposed to trace that call, right?

Hayley: He's under the Abattoir.

Stiles: If that is this address, then yes, he is. [shows her the google map]

Hayley: [turns to look, the nods] Yeah. I know that stone work very well.

Stiles: Well, if plan A doesn't work, we can go make a plan b.

Hayley: [she nods] We're going to do our best to see Plan A through though.

Stiles: It's in Elijah's hands now.

Hayley: Yeah. That conversation is going to be a trip. [she runs her hand through her hair] But that's tomorrow's problem.

Stiles: Yeah, and it's late. we should get some sleep so we can start the long drive back at oh god why thirty.

Hayley: Regretting coming with me on this trip yet?

Stiles: No. But I do need to go get some cheap souvenir before we go for Ben.

Hayley: [she nods] I know a good place. We can stop there before we get on the highway.

Stiles: Good. [yawns, going to roll over on his side] See you in a few hours.

Hayley: [nods and does the same] Night.

Stiles: Night.