[ there's her fodder for plans b-p if "killing" elena doesn't work. doing all of that at once will make it lose its edge, but katherine keeps it all in mind.
katherine looks thoughtful as she takes it all in. she knows of his mother, but she can't quite pull from it unless she goes looking for it in his mind. it'd be too much work trying to find that as a trigger. katherine dying in front of him won't cause so much as a flicker; his words and actions had solidified that. telling elena as much opens a can of worms and even room for argument.
first thing's first—ensuring elena, and most importantly herself, has confidence in her capability. ]
I'm over 500 years old. Lexi's younger than me. I think I can do more damage than her. [ she just needs to find the right trigger, which can be difficult. stefan, like anyone, changes. last time he had his humanity off around her, it'd been by klaus' compulsion. making him understand his lack of action would result in damon's death had prompted a spurt of humanity to find him. this is going to require far more than that.
with a sigh, ] Let's "kill" you first. And if that doesn't work… It's going to get really nasty.
( But, they need Stefan back. She is enjoying it a little too much. The idea of getting nasty. )
So. Are you taking me to him, or do I happen upon you two without your humanity? Go into one of my self-righteous Elena speeches? ( She can make fun of herself, too. )
[ katherine covers her mouth with her hand to hide her laugh. she can already see that little speech making stefan roll his eyes and comment. he can't help himself; when he's a ripper, he's like a child who always has to have the last word.
with a smile, it's probably not kosher to be plotting someone's kidnapping with amusement in her voice, ] Do you want to? It might distract him enough if you make it very self-righteous.
It makes more sense than if you switched off your humanity, found me, and brought me to him. If you had no humanity, you wouldn't care. You'd kill me the first chance you get then - barely mention it if you did end up finding him.
( Elena is painfully logical thanks to her studies. She does share one idea. )
I think that, calling it that, switching off your humanity, it's not true. Because there's still something underneath. Little things break through. They're not gone. I think what vampires turn off is their guilt. ( Or their capacity for it. ) Klaus always had his humanity and he -- is not what we're talking about. We might have to put a jar out. ( For every time she makes a reference. But, Katherine and her only have Stefan, Damon, Klaus, and yes, Caroline in common. )
I think I need to find the two of you. We distract him, you stab him with the needle and then we break him with my death. In his mind. And if that doesn't work. There's... always getting nasty...-er.
[ turning off their guilt. that's exactly what it is—and it's why katherine has never found that switch to flip it off. it'd be far too easy.
from what stefan had done and said to her, that's exactly as it sounds. his humanity is still there; his guilt is simply gone. begging for death, being mean, embodying actual rage… it's very much the opposite of stefan. ]
That's true. [ she doesn't sound particularly arrogant or confident when she says that; instead, she's soberly serious and quiet. katherine's made it very clear that she would kill elena in a heartbeat, but she hasn't. all bark, no bite; threatening her has become as pointless as her expecting elijah to come save her. ]
On both accounts. When I was with Stefan, he was so emotional. He loves you, so I think we need to try this. And if it doesn't work, you need to make sure you're not involved. He'll need you when he's come back to himself.
I never won't be there. For Stefan. I finally understand what you meant when you said you loved them both. Or, I think I do. You loved them differently. I love Stefan. A part of me always will. But, he's one of my best friends now. And you two, you're -- friends? Now?
[ they'd agreed to be friends, but after stefan had decided to turn his guilt off… she isn't quite sure what they are. it's not elena's problem. she'd already gone through the tumultuous motions of navigating that territory of romantically moving away from stefan. she should be able to enjoy her best friend status with him now. ]
That's what we were trying to be. [ in an attempt to make this a little more lighthearted, especially given what they're set to do, she teases, ] It's a little hard; he's very annoying with his hero hair.
( Mmm. Yes. She - catches the smile she gives. This is Katherine. But, one that reached out to her, because they work with one another when they can. She holds a year long grudge, years - really, but this Katherine, it reminds her of the Katherine she'd first met. The Katherine who told Elena her story. Their Petrova line. )
Is this what you meant when I said I had the Petrova fire?
[ she can't help her light laugh, ] It has nothing to do with boys.
[ contrary to what it may seem, given that boys seem to orbit around them. katherine can't help the fond expression she wears when she thinks back to her own mother. she had been one of the one she had aspired to be like. bits of elena is what she hoped came from her very own daughter.
tone warm, ] You come from a line of women who did whatever the hell they wanted, regardless of society's expectations of them. You never give up. That's the Petrova fire.
( They have a plan now. And a truce to go with that plan. One that's unspoken. They have one aim in mind. Get Stefan to turn his humanity back on. But, first. She thinks about forming an apology. Not taking Katherine into account with her last big decision. One that blindsided everybody she loved. But, the negative things walk that apology back.
One thing at a time. )
We should find Stefan.
( She retrieves the hypodermic needle, turning back to Katherine. )
You need to give him the full dose. It should incapacitate and weaken him enough for you to get inside his mind and convince him you've killed me. Hopefully, by the time he comes to in your ass jail he'll have turned his guilt back on. He'll feel anything.
[ katherine exhales, not feeling any more confident despite wanting to. ]
Stay close, but obviously not close enough for him to sense you before you appear.
[ a given, but sometimes it needs to be said. katherine cares if elena makes it out of this unscathed because she wants her to be there for stefan. out of all the things he's confessed to her, having someone by his side is one of the big missing factors.
while she wants to look away, she makes sure she looks at elena and genuinely says, ] Thanks, Elena. He's very lucky to have a friend like you.
( She nods. Everything has to be put aside. This is for Stefan. And if Katherine came to her. She need Elena. Like Elena and the Salvatores had needed her before. Even if she'd double crossed them, or kidnapped her brother.
Or killed her brother.
But, the woman who did those things, who stole her body to survive is saying that. )
I'll keep my distance. Try to - get him into a bar or, somewhere with minimal casualties. ( And still, Elena speaks like a doctor. And a strategist. Bars are empty for the most part. Most places are. It's bedlam outside. )
Be persistent in the fact that he's Stefan underneath all the rippery grrness. [ elena doesn't really need her to tell her that that's the best way to distract him. elena hardly ever gives up on the people around her, even when they've done something horrible. from what she's gathered from stefan, he'll be distracted in trying to prove her wrong—elena's speeches make a bigger impact than katherine's. but just in case she needs the encouragement...
katherine rolls her eyes, ] He's very chatty when you tell him he's better than what he is. [ very chatty and mean, but elena doesn't need to know those details, nor does she need to know why katherine doesn't believe her own speeches of redemption and flip switching will work.
( She locks the door to the lab behind them, giving a cursory glance around. )
The only thing that makes him a Ripper is his inability to stop himself. When he's not like this, he's just - Stefan. Hard to be around sometimes, but loyal, and sweet. I know that's what he is, what his mother is. There's an entire science behind it I'd kill to study but - underneath that, he is Stefan.
[ the hospital is now very boring to katherine. although she should try to memorise where everything is, she walks out bored and feeling very, very tired. she needs to keep her energy for later. ]
Hmm. [ she bites the inside of her mouth as she follows elena. eying the back of her head, she allows herself to ask the one question that's going to plague her afterwards: ] So, where does Stefan end and the Ripper begin? Just at his inability to control his bloodlust?
[ she wishes she had sounded just a little more flippant. after all the things stefan said to her, she's trying to find some middle ground. is it stefan? is it not stefan? how is she supposed to move forward after this? ]
Yes. Because, even the Stefan in control of his emotions can go off the rails.
( He hadn't turned it off for Klaus. And she knew as guilty as he felt, as many names as he left on the back of his door in his apartment in Chicago, he still enjoyed a part of the kill. He couldn't keep from ripping into people's throats - until their bodies came apart.
She leads Katherine back to the elevators, pushing the button. )
Ripping is like alcoholism. It has to be in his genetic make-up, something hereditary. You enjoy the kill because you're a vampire, but you don't behead people from how much you enjoy killing. ( And if she has, don't tell her, Katherine. )
[ behind her back, katherine looks pensive. no, she doesn't enjoy the thrill of beheading anyone—it's messy and unncessary, and the cleanup is disgusting. contrary to popular belief, she doesn't like killing at all. it's simply the way she's gone about getting several steps ahead of klaus and elijah because it works. loose ends are too dangerous.
none of what elena says makes katherine feel any better about what transpired between her and stefan, but that isn't elena's job to. while katherine may seek it in her own understanding of rippers and human medicine, the only person who can give her answers is the idiot who is currently in a blood-alcoholic ripper state.
she lets out a long sigh, ] That's… not good. How do you even help an alcoholic stop being an alcoholic?
They have to want to. When I -- ( She stops, wanting to go into her part of things. Taking Luke's magical herbs to see Damon, and craving more and more blood as a side effect. That had been her war on drugs. Or, her succumbing.
But, she and Katherine aren't friends. It's a sobering reminder as the elevator arrives. )
I should take the stairs. Stefan is going to have to want to come back. It was his mother - we used his mother to bring him before ending up here. But, he knows now what she'd said to him to get him to turn his humanity back on was a lie. And with Caroline... We'll need to push hard.
( She knows Katherine can and will. )
I'll stay close but not too close. )
( She pulls herself out. She's going to rescue Stefan - or help. Or hope to. But, she can't stand here and act like nothing happened. Like she can talk about losing Damon. Stefan is their common goal and one of the things they have in common. They should stick to that. )
[ if katherine's meant to make a move or say anything to stop elena, she doesn't. she's not that type of person, not even with someone she's friends with. she probably needs her space, too, even though she doesn't particularly want it.
with a deep inhale, she lets it out. ] Okay. [ katherine holds her hand out to stop the elevator from closing. ] I need to go grab a few Stefan supplies since I doubt I'll have time, so… [ she shrugs, not quite knowing how this is supposed to end.
removing her hand from the elevator's doorway, she ends it on a very katherine note. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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katherine looks thoughtful as she takes it all in. she knows of his mother, but she can't quite pull from it unless she goes looking for it in his mind. it'd be too much work trying to find that as a trigger. katherine dying in front of him won't cause so much as a flicker; his words and actions had solidified that. telling elena as much opens a can of worms and even room for argument.
first thing's first—ensuring elena, and most importantly herself, has confidence in her capability. ]
I'm over 500 years old. Lexi's younger than me. I think I can do more damage than her. [ she just needs to find the right trigger, which can be difficult. stefan, like anyone, changes. last time he had his humanity off around her, it'd been by klaus' compulsion. making him understand his lack of action would result in damon's death had prompted a spurt of humanity to find him. this is going to require far more than that.
with a sigh, ] Let's "kill" you first. And if that doesn't work… It's going to get really nasty.
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( But, they need Stefan back. She is enjoying it a little too much. The idea of getting nasty. )
So. Are you taking me to him, or do I happen upon you two without your humanity? Go into one of my self-righteous Elena speeches? ( She can make fun of herself, too. )
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with a smile, it's probably not kosher to be plotting someone's kidnapping with amusement in her voice, ] Do you want to? It might distract him enough if you make it very self-righteous.
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( Elena is painfully logical thanks to her studies. She does share one idea. )
I think that, calling it that, switching off your humanity, it's not true. Because there's still something underneath. Little things break through. They're not gone. I think what vampires turn off is their guilt. ( Or their capacity for it. ) Klaus always had his humanity and he -- is not what we're talking about. We might have to put a jar out. ( For every time she makes a reference. But, Katherine and her only have Stefan, Damon, Klaus, and yes, Caroline in common. )
I think I need to find the two of you. We distract him, you stab him with the needle and then we break him with my death. In his mind. And if that doesn't work. There's... always getting nasty...-er.
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from what stefan had done and said to her, that's exactly as it sounds. his humanity is still there; his guilt is simply gone. begging for death, being mean, embodying actual rage… it's very much the opposite of stefan. ]
That's true. [ she doesn't sound particularly arrogant or confident when she says that; instead, she's soberly serious and quiet. katherine's made it very clear that she would kill elena in a heartbeat, but she hasn't. all bark, no bite; threatening her has become as pointless as her expecting elijah to come save her. ]
On both accounts. When I was with Stefan, he was so emotional. He loves you, so I think we need to try this. And if it doesn't work, you need to make sure you're not involved. He'll need you when he's come back to himself.
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( And again. It has to. )
I never won't be there. For Stefan. I finally understand what you meant when you said you loved them both. Or, I think I do. You loved them differently. I love Stefan. A part of me always will. But, he's one of my best friends now. And you two, you're -- friends? Now?
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That's what we were trying to be. [ in an attempt to make this a little more lighthearted, especially given what they're set to do, she teases, ] It's a little hard; he's very annoying with his hero hair.
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Is this what you meant when I said I had the Petrova fire?
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[ contrary to what it may seem, given that boys seem to orbit around them. katherine can't help the fond expression she wears when she thinks back to her own mother. she had been one of the one she had aspired to be like. bits of elena is what she hoped came from her very own daughter.
tone warm, ] You come from a line of women who did whatever the hell they wanted, regardless of society's expectations of them. You never give up. That's the Petrova fire.
no subject
( They have a plan now. And a truce to go with that plan. One that's unspoken. They have one aim in mind. Get Stefan to turn his humanity back on. But, first. She thinks about forming an apology. Not taking Katherine into account with her last big decision. One that blindsided everybody she loved. But, the negative things walk that apology back.
One thing at a time. )
We should find Stefan.
( She retrieves the hypodermic needle, turning back to Katherine. )
You need to give him the full dose. It should incapacitate and weaken him enough for you to get inside his mind and convince him you've killed me. Hopefully, by the time he comes to in your ass jail he'll have turned his guilt back on. He'll feel anything.
no subject
Stay close, but obviously not close enough for him to sense you before you appear.
[ a given, but sometimes it needs to be said. katherine cares if elena makes it out of this unscathed because she wants her to be there for stefan. out of all the things he's confessed to her, having someone by his side is one of the big missing factors.
while she wants to look away, she makes sure she looks at elena and genuinely says, ] Thanks, Elena. He's very lucky to have a friend like you.
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Or killed her brother.
But, the woman who did those things, who stole her body to survive is saying that. )
I'll keep my distance. Try to - get him into a bar or, somewhere with minimal casualties. ( And still, Elena speaks like a doctor. And a strategist. Bars are empty for the most part. Most places are. It's bedlam outside. )
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katherine rolls her eyes, ] He's very chatty when you tell him he's better than what he is. [ very chatty and mean, but elena doesn't need to know those details, nor does she need to know why katherine doesn't believe her own speeches of redemption and flip switching will work.
pursing her lips, ] God, Rippers are so annoying.
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( She locks the door to the lab behind them, giving a cursory glance around. )
The only thing that makes him a Ripper is his inability to stop himself. When he's not like this, he's just - Stefan. Hard to be around sometimes, but loyal, and sweet. I know that's what he is, what his mother is. There's an entire science behind it I'd kill to study but - underneath that, he is Stefan.
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Hmm. [ she bites the inside of her mouth as she follows elena. eying the back of her head, she allows herself to ask the one question that's going to plague her afterwards: ] So, where does Stefan end and the Ripper begin? Just at his inability to control his bloodlust?
[ she wishes she had sounded just a little more flippant. after all the things stefan said to her, she's trying to find some middle ground. is it stefan? is it not stefan? how is she supposed to move forward after this? ]
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( He hadn't turned it off for Klaus. And she knew as guilty as he felt, as many names as he left on the back of his door in his apartment in Chicago, he still enjoyed a part of the kill. He couldn't keep from ripping into people's throats - until their bodies came apart.
She leads Katherine back to the elevators, pushing the button. )
Ripping is like alcoholism. It has to be in his genetic make-up, something hereditary. You enjoy the kill because you're a vampire, but you don't behead people from how much you enjoy killing. ( And if she has, don't tell her, Katherine. )
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none of what elena says makes katherine feel any better about what transpired between her and stefan, but that isn't elena's job to. while katherine may seek it in her own understanding of rippers and human medicine, the only person who can give her answers is the idiot who is currently in a blood-alcoholic ripper state.
she lets out a long sigh, ] That's… not good. How do you even help an alcoholic stop being an alcoholic?
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But, she and Katherine aren't friends. It's a sobering reminder as the elevator arrives. )
I should take the stairs. Stefan is going to have to want to come back. It was his mother - we used his mother to bring him before ending up here. But, he knows now what she'd said to him to get him to turn his humanity back on was a lie. And with Caroline... We'll need to push hard.
( She knows Katherine can and will. )
I'll stay close but not too close. )
( She pulls herself out. She's going to rescue Stefan - or help. Or hope to. But, she can't stand here and act like nothing happened. Like she can talk about losing Damon. Stefan is their common goal and one of the things they have in common. They should stick to that. )
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with a deep inhale, she lets it out. ] Okay. [ katherine holds her hand out to stop the elevator from closing. ] I need to go grab a few Stefan supplies since I doubt I'll have time, so… [ she shrugs, not quite knowing how this is supposed to end.
removing her hand from the elevator's doorway, she ends it on a very katherine note. ]
Don't get sacrificed.
[ look at those fancy doors close. ]