026: VISUAL [ nothing is forever, there's got to be something better than in the middle ]

[aregulargirl]

This broadcast is not accidental, although it may seem like that's the case. Max is sitting at her kitchen counter, an empty glass cradled in her hands and a bottle containing a bright blue liquid sitting nearby. She's staring at the counter top, not really looking at anything in particular, and it's a significant amount of time, probably a few

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[ voice ]

[whoneedsrules]

Friend of yours? [ a beat. ] Tough break. I'm sorry.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl]

Thanks. [ beat. ] Guess I should be used to this by now.

[ voice ]

[whoneedsrules]

I don't think this is the sort of thing one gets used to.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl]

[ a longer beat. ]

I guess it's not. Although I always seem to forget that it's a possibility, until it happens again.

[ voice ]

[whoneedsrules]

I guess we should be glad that they've gotten to go back home, but... let's face it. It still sucks.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl]

Yeah. A lot.

[ yet another beat, and then: ]

It was my boyfriend, the first time. Someone I'd met while I was here.

[ voice ]

[whoneedsrules]

[ that hits a chord in katherine, and she's silent for a moment. when she speaks up, it's less like she's simply offering her condolences and more like she knows the feeling. ]

I'm sorry. Being forced apart from someone you care for is-- [ agonizing? ] Saying it's hard is an understatement.

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl]

[ there's not much response for a few moments aside from max's carefully controlled breathing. she doesn't want to cry, but she's been anticipating it for the past few hours, since she found out he was gone. so far, there's been nothing, just sadness and hopelessness that feels overwhelming and what feels like a knot inside her chest. at this point, she's almost hoping to start crying, just so she can feel some sort of catharsis. ]

Yeah. [ another pause. ] I just...don't have anyone here, you know? No one from home. So when people I get to know here get taken back, without any warning...

[ voice ]

[whoneedsrules]

[ katherine listens in silence, a far-away look in her eyes - not that max can see it on the voice feed. she can relate to max's plight, in a sort of reversed way. her own five-century run from klaus didn't afford her the luxury of forming many lasting friendships. she would inevitably have to leave everyone behind and move on, and sometimes it was harder than she'd ever expected. leaving stefan in 1864 was one of those instances. however, her recent closeness with stefan has also forced her to look at things from the point of view of those left behind, and her feelings on the matter are no longer as simple as they used to be. she's feeling a touch of guilt these days, and she's not sure she likes it. ]

It hurts. Yeah. [ a brief, slightly awkward pause as katherine makes a concentrated effort to fall back in line with her cover of a slightly clueless teen. she's really started to quite like max, but she can't afford to get too familiar. not yet, at least. ] Hey, listen... if you feel like doing something later, or whenever, you can

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl]

[ max smiles in response - not that katherine can see it, either. but she truly appreciates the offer, even if there's a corner of her mind that's nagging at her, reminding her of the friends she's already lost, that it's probably better to be alone. but she's spent over a decade living like that, and a much bigger part of her is tired of running, tired of pretending she doesn't need that kind of contact with people.

another part of her is afraid that if she refuses it, she'll lose her humanity, become what it is she's always feared. ]

I think I'm in the drinking alone phase of this whole...grieving period. [ there's a note of distaste in her tone in her own choice of words. she doesn't like making it sound like he's dead, but she can't be bothered to think of a better term. ] But once I'm not, I'll probably take you up on that.

[ voice ]

[whoneedsrules]

That's fine. Just putting the offer out there, fyi.

[ she cringes to herself as soon as the acronym comes out of her mouth - that sounded too much like caroline forbes for katherine's liking. ]

Not that it's limited to partying, just... if you need anything, okay?

[ voice ]

[aregulargirl]

It's appreciated. [ a bit of a pause, and then, in a softer and slightly happier tone: ] Thank you, Katherine.

[ voice ]

[whoneedsrules]

[ katherine smiles a little herself at that. ] No problem, Max.