PARADISA

[Anyone listening over the journal will possibly hear the wooden snap of clothespins being popped off of the line and a light slosh of water in what may or may not be a sink or basin. Water might splatter onto the page of the journal, since Katherine actually doesn't want to sit around and watch clothing dry.]

Cleaning out a closet and finding shopping bags from Paris, from Christmas last year, that had never even been opened and put away - at least it gave me something to do today.

[Considering Katherine spent nearly her last six months in the castle dealing with corsets and bloomers -- it's no wonder that she didn't dig deep into that closet earlier.]

I will say, hand-washing is the most tedious task to do. [She says this as she hangs up another camisole top onto the line in the laundry room. The laundry room which now has a pile of discarded paper shopping bags and boxes, with colored tissue papers and ribbons all on the floor at her feet. The laundry room where the available lines are strung up with lace bras and frilly things that one would buy in Paris if they had the ability to compel anyone and everyone that was working retail there. The laundry room where anyone is welcome to come and be frustrated that she's taken up all that space.]


( Damon Salvatore )



( Ezio )

[Katherine can be found in the lobby. She's dressed in plenty of layers, her dress and coat meant to keep her warm as she heads out. To be perfectly honest, she's a bit tired of the eighteen-hundreds, but at least she looks stunning. She opens her journal and sets it out onto her lap, pressing the pages open.]

Would anyone care to accompany me to some ice skating outside? I'm certain the pond is frozen over enough.



(ooc: open for kisses or just general winter fun!)

[When Katherine awakens in the middle of the night, it's Katherine that realizes just what the castle has done to her. All her talk of getting ahead of the castle, of not allowing it to use their weaknesses to its favor and she'd been traipsing around the grounds as a naive, hopeful woman. Katerina was a part of herself that she'd long since kept locked up. Now, not only had others seen, but others believed her to be new to the castle -- even Damon... Damon newly arrived is unsure of what to think. Of course, she can't keep up the act for too long. She's not human... and even she can't fake Elena for too long with Damon near.

Exhaling, she reaches for the journal and does the only thing she can think to do.

Use the castle, just as the castle used her.]


Now, that was alarming -- to say the least. I think I went home for a while. [A pause as she flips the pages, purely for dramatic purposes.]

Actually, I know I did. Can someone tell me what day it is?


( Damon Salvatore )

[She's avoiding her studies. Her notes set aside, but still in hand as she turns around the corner. Her laughter echoes on the walls of the castle. She's certain someone will hear her. Someone will tell her that she's being irresponsible, that she should mind her lessons. It is for her own improvement. Yet, she is bored with the lessons and instead wishes to find something far more enjoyable.

She moves to turn down the south corridor, but instead she's met with a wall. The sudden shift of landscape startles her and the book she'd been holding launches from her hand, opening to blank pages on the floor near her feet.]

This is quite unsettling. I am certain that the south corridor was here this morning.

[Stepping away from the wall, she turns around and looks for her misplaced book.]

I suppose I am to return to my studies, if I am not able to find my way around what is to be my home. [She says it out loud, but scoops her book up and instead turns around to race the other way. Ignoring her studies once more. They will be there in the morning.]

[ETA: Once the Salvatores left, Katherine filtered this from anyone from Mystic Falls.]

[The voice on the journal is clear and with purpose. There will be a direct point to be made.]

I'm opening an academy here in a month. Hopefully, it will be something to help everyone here. We're here together and maybe it's not the easiest thing to handle, but we're all fully capable of taking care of ourselves. Why not lend a bit of that real-world experience and knowledge to others.

If you're interested in teaching or are looking to learn something specific - please, let either myself, Tess Mercer, or Lilah Morgan know. I've already spoken to a few of you and I truly believe that this is going to be something beneficial to everyone here.


( Ezio )

( Neal Caffrey )


[With that taken care of, Katherine can be found in the city. Pick a place and she's there.]

[ETA: Once the Salvatores left, Katherine filtered this from anyone from Mystic Falls.]

[It is an important choice she made when she came back from Mystic Falls to find herself not exactly 'far away' from Klaus, but far enough that she felt it is safe to risk this sort of choice. Now though, even with all of her choices made and goals set for the future, she's still keeping ever mindful of the things she's left behind.]

A while ago, I posed a question to the castle about what someone might want to learn - if they were given the opportunity. [It was anonymous and not the only question she asked, either.]

At the time, most of you weren't really interested. It's a shame that most of you didn't look beyond your own lives. I suppose I could've been more specific, but I was mostly curious what the answers would be.

Hardly anyone thought about their own education, which is what I had been aiming for. [Her tone isn't quite dismissive, but there is the slightest edge of disapproval that she hasn't been able to remove.] I think we all have a lot we could learn from people who are right here in the castle.

In fact, I'm sure there are plenty of people right now who would actually enjoy teaching something about their world or who they are back home. I know I'm curious about most of the things here. Experiences, history of worlds I'll never get a chance to go to.

It's something I've been thinking about a lot since I arrived here. It's why I've spent the last few months renovating an old mansion in the city, with the help of the local townspeople. [Not a single one was compelled either. Also, those paying attention will hear her tone shift to something actually genuine. It's hard to break habits, but she's going to take a breath and just say it.]

The plan is for it to be a place where we can all learn more about each other and teach whatever skills we have to offer, but I'm hardly capable of teaching everything and I'd like to know if there are other residents here who are interested in helping me out with this. [If you were in front of her, you'd see the face in her icon. Expectant. Curious. Hopeful.]

I'll honestly take anyone interested.

[With that, she grabs her pen and sets up a filter for Morgana]





Morgana ]

We should talk.

----

blind filter: anonymous to all non-humans ]

if given the chance to protect others from yourself, should the castle decide to tamper with your personal limits, would you prefer to have a plan already in place?

do you?



(ooc: no thread-jacking will be allowed. All conversations are private by default. No spying on your peers.)
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( Ezio Auditore )