บท 8: Built it Up
A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire diaries or it's Spin offs. Obviously.
I made a mistake. I said I wouldn't do for this story. I plotted the things I wanted to write in this chapter.
Every time I plot something, I struggle to write it and yet I plotted this chapter. Writing it was hard because Damon wouldn't stop talking! And there was even a brief confrontation with Stefan that I wrote in that felt stilted and awkward that had to be deleted.
Anyway, enjoy reading it and thank you for your love and support.
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Chapter 8
Built it Up!
Neena and Bonnie sat on the front porch of the Gilbert's residence.
"Thanks for coming with me," Neena said, fidgeting.
Bonnie gave her a tight lipped smile. "No problem. Caroline was insistent that I should help you."
Neena chuckled.
Caroline Forbes had decided that Bonnie and Neena were not close enough, so when Neena had asked Jeremy to help her with a delivery, the blonde insisted that she and Bonnie were enough help. Elena pouted but stayed quiet. Jeremy had happily left Neena at the blonde cheerleader's mercy because it meant following Vicki around like a lost puppy to 'help her with homework'.
Elena had become even more moody after hearing that and followed after Jeremy, trying to make him see that Vicki was 'bad influence'. Jeremy did not take her opinions kindly.
Caroline, the multi-tasker, of course had a Student Council meeting and the whole job fell onto Bonnie and Neena's shoulders.
"So, what did you order?" Bonnie asked.
Neena leaned against the door. "Herbs. I want a new hobby. I'm thinking of learning how to make some herbal soaps and scents. And I did learn a few kinds of herbal tea that are said to be good for health and beauty on the internet. It's a good way to let my emotions calm down."
"Oh?" Bonnie was surprised. "Wow. Getting into new hobbies... Elena should start those too, maybe it would help her."
Neena shrugged. "Everyone grieves differently and besides, she should want it too. You are okay with helping me right? I can do this by myself if you think it's too much. Might take a bit-"
"I want to. My Grams loves these things, so do know a bit about these kinds of stuff."
"Really?"
"Yeah...she keeps saying we are witches."
"Wow. Are supposed to tell people that though? Aren't those kinds of things supposed to remain secret."
Bonnie laughed. "Nah... Grams is cool about it. She keeps trying to convince me but seriously, that woman has been reading too much of occult books of our ancestors."
"But it sounds so awesome. If you really don't believe it then you can try seeing it as a family tradition. Something you indulge in because it's what families do on a Sunday brunch."
Bonnie grinned. "Witchy juju on Sunday brunches. Nice."
Neena nudged her side. "Now that is a great book title. It could be about a bunch of oldie witches sitting around, eating food, and talking about all the witchy things they did the whole week. Turning men into frogs-"
"And frogs into men-"
"Flowers into bugs-"
"Bugs into snakes-"
"All things magical!"
The two burst into laughter.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations Host 999!
Hidden Quest complete!
We are Friends!
Bonnie Bennett's favourability towards Host 999 has reached-'Friend I talk to often'!
Reward: 400 Experience Points!]
'That's nice. Although, I don't think I understand this favourability measure still.'
A truck made its way down the road.
"I think that's it!" Bonnie said.
"Yeah, I think so too."
The two girls jumped to their feet.
[ding!]
[Host 999 has gained 1500 Experience Points within a span of one month. Host 999 was able to raise the favourability of two Plot characters to above Neutral.
Host is now eligible to further system information.]
'What does that mean?'
[If Host 999 is able to gain 500 more Experience Points, and get one more Plot character to raise their favourability to above Neutral, the Host will be given access to System Market.]
Neena blinked. 'What? Market? How will I buy things from it? What will I buy from it?'
[Trade in System Market is done through Experience Points. The items list is inaccessible to the Host right now. They are only available to be viewed after the Market is open for the Host.]
'Wait! What do you mean Experience Points? These Experience Points are for your upgrade right?'
The truck stopped in front of them. A man in a bowler hat got out. "Aleena Gilbert?"
"That's me."
The man opened the back of the truck and started to unload.
She paid the guy off.
[System Experience Points are not Host accessible. The Host Experience Points will become available after the System Market is opened.]
'And how do I gain Host Points?'
[Future quest rewards will be given to both the System and the Host. If the reward says 500 points, Host will gain 250 points and so will the System.]
'Sorry, I guess. Didn't mean to steal your points.'
[System Points are System Points. This step is necessary to ensure that the System does not update before its ready. It is also to ensure that the Host stays motivated to do quests for the System.]
'So you are basically trying to make me some kind of game addict?'
[Yes.]
Neena snorted. Bonnie looked at her in confusion.
"Something went into my nose."
"Oh, okay then. Shall we start the unpacking?"
"Let's get the boxes inside first. We can unpack it there."
Bonnie nodded and stacked to boxes. "Let's take it two at a time, that will lighten the job."
"Great idea."
The two started moving the packages.
Neena made small talk with the witch, trying to get her to talk a bit more about her Grams and any spells she might have taught her.
The young girl was excited and started to babble on.
Neena realized that Bonnie did have a love for these witches stories and had probably held herself back because of Elena and Caroline. Caroline was a bit too...blunt and straight forward. She thought these things were fun but that was the extant to which she would go.
Elena was not welcoming. Neena remembered how during the first few episodes Elena had tried to convince Bonnie that there was nothing witchy about her. It's only Stefan being a vampire that made the Doppelganger accept that her best friend might be a witch.
Having someone actually interested in the witchy side of her and not mocking it meant a lot to the girl even before the series started it seemed. A part of her already believed she had powers even though she tried to play it of as a joke. She knew deep down magic was real and that she was a part of it. Her friends' rejection of that part of her did hurt her a lot.
And Neena was sure it was the biggest hurdle in the witch's life. She had wanted to be accepted for her magic and so did things to the extreme to show her worth.
By the time Bonnie drove Neena back to the Forbes Residence, the two had reached discussed many things about her visions, exchanged numbers and Neena had got an invite to talk to her Grams about the magical side of things further.
[Ding!]
'You are becoming predictable, 143!'
[Quest Alert!
It's so Magical!
We take care of our own. Get Sheila Bennett to teach you things about Magic.
Reward: 400 Experience Points.]
The rest of the day was spent reviewing the notes Caroline prepared for her and practicing her magic with Damon's crow siting on the window sill or somewhere that made it easier for the bird to see her. She had no idea what the elder Salvatore wanted from her of course. She didn't look like Katherine. She didn't behave like Katherine. And really is not right for a Hundred something guy to be spying on a teenage girl.
She had thought only Stefan had that problem. She had even tried to shoo the bird away but he just didn't get the hint. She even magically threw it out the window the one time it flew into the room.
She was pretty sure by that point that Damon wanted her to know he was watching her.
Maybe it was in frustration but she started using the bird as target practice by magically throwing things at it. The bird would always escape.
Her magic became stronger because of that. And she finally made way in her Waterbender dream.
She could make balls of water and hover it in air.
She looked at the bird perched on her window in annoyance.
Damned Salvatore!
She aimed the waterballs at the bird and shot it.
The sphere slowly floated towards the bird. The crow stared at the slowly approaching ball of water. At the last second as it was about to hit it, the bird flew away to the other side of the window.
The water fell to the floor.
Neena glared at the creature.
Its black eyes looked at her with intelligence, mocking her.
She was sure Damon Salvatore was somewhere in Mystic Falls laughing at her poor attempt at attacking it.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations Host 999!
You have unlocked subskill: Water Projection!
User can project water like a ball or a javelin. User's control over magic determines the force of the projectile liquid.
Host 999 has Pathetic Control.]
'Rub it in my face, why don't you.'
[Skill upgrade!
Water Manipulation has reached 'Shallow Understanding'!
Congratulations!]
Neena hissed at the condescending look the Avian creature sent her and the derision in the System's wording.
She kicked the bedpost and cried at the pain it caused.
The crow made a sound that Neena was sure was a crow-laugh. It was during such times that Neena felt relief that the Doppelganger didn't like the original and avoided her as a result. The only people to witness her stupidity were the System, the crow, and the homicidal Vampire spying on her. No human witnesses.
She laid on the bed, and stared at the Gilbert Family photo on the desk.
They looked happy and wholesome.
One of the things she noticed during those days was that she was not influenced by Aleena's emotions as much anymore. The same couldn't be said for her own mind demons who tormented her at night. She woke up most days screaming bloody murder in the hands of Caroline or Jeremy.
She was grateful towards them. They would never know how much they were helping her.
Whenever she saw Elena hovering at the door, with an expression that was a mix of concern and anger, Neena would feel guilty.
Neena Winston was a woman in her late 20s. Elena was just a 16 year old. Between them, Elena did need more emotional support, and as far as anyone in this world knew Elena was the one in their parents accident not Aleena Gilbert.
Yet it seemed, Aleena was having the greater reaction.
But she couldn't help want the comfort that her blonde friend and her little brother gave her. Caroline gave the best hugs.
Her attempt to make vervain induced products was a slow goer because the plants were all saplings. She would only have the flowers to experiment with near September.
Neena really hoped the flowers bloomed before the Plot started because she did not want Caroline to fall into Damon's hands.
The scenes with Damon had felt too rape-like for her. And even if it wasn't she didn't want Caroline to suffer through it.
If worse comes to worse she will ask Zach Salvatore for some vervain just for her, but Caroline would be protected.
Friday morning found her chugging down a glass of juice as Caroline and Jeremy fussed over her.
It was the day of the interview.
Neena barely held back her tears.
The difference between the interviews she had as Neena Winston and Aleena Gilbert was disconcerting. It was the first time she felt prepared for it. It was the first time she understood what she was getting into. And more importantly, it was the first time she had someone to worry for her. The two of them had started to quiz her since she got up.
It frustrated her at some level but she was more happy. She couldn't help think, she had people who did care.
She had a best friend now. She had a little brother now. A family.
Even Elena with all her teenage angst was family.
It shocked her.
Until that moment, she had not really thought about it. But once it did, her heart felt overwhelmed.
She finally had a family. And friends.
She had people who cared if she died, who would cry at her funeral.
Elena frowned. The doppelganger looked at Caroline's excited face and Jeremy's buzzing worry.
"Good luck, Aleena," the female lead muttered.
Neena nodded but her attention was mostly on the anger laced in her words and her rigid body.
The eyes she looked Neena with as she said those words was one she had never seen in the eyes of the doppelganger.
Jealousy. An emotion she never thought Elena felt for her elder sister.
Elena Gilbert was jealous of Aleena Gilbert.
As that thought flashed in her mind, Neena felt a sense of satisfaction.
Aleena felt happy. Comforted. She had finally shown to the 'Perfect Gilbert Girl' that she was something. That she mattered. That she was not just a side character for Elena's own story.
Neena blinked, suppressing the hateful emotions the OG pushed.
She felt a shiver run down her spine.
She had thought of herself as Aleena again.
She wished she could talk to the System about it. To ask if there was a glitch. But she feared it would terminate the contract. Then where would she be?
Elena must have seen the malicious thoughts Aleena had for her because the Doppelganger glared in anger and stormed off.
The other two ignored the doppelganger, their focus on Neena.
Caroline drove Neena and Jeremy to Restaurant Crescent.
The building was quint and elegant. There was an air of sophistication around it.
Or Neena might have been projecting what she felt about this interview towards the establishment.
Jeremy wished her luck and walked away to the Mystic Grill to meet Ms Donovan.
Caroline kept glaring at his back.
"Brat! He just wanted to hitch a ride to meet the druggy sister of Matt."
"Care!"
"It's the truth."
"Don't call her names, Care bear. That's not nice."
"Anyway, best of luck, okay? You don't need it, with all the preparations we did but you get it! Oh! And Bonnie said best of luck too. And said she would be there to celebrate it when you get the job!"
Neena looked the smug grin on the Blonde's face and sighed. "Yes... Tell her I said thanks."
Caroline raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"And you are right about me and Bonnie becoming fast friends."
Caroline looked so pleased with herself, her face shining.
Neena rolled her eyes and pulled the girl's cheeks.
"Ow! Neena!"
"Don't look so smug, Blondie!"
"I'm not! I'm not! Let go!"
Neena pulled harder.
Caroline retaliated, pulling Neena's cheeks.
Neena hissed.
"Alright! Fine! I'll let go! On the count of three! One! Two! Three!"
The two let go of each other.
The few people around them looked at the two weirdly.
The two laughed.
"I need to leave now. Have a meeting with the school board about the schedule for this year's Events Calendar."
Neena scoffed. "This town has more parties than a strip club has hookers."
Caroline looked scandalized. "Wow. Seriously?"
"Go, Ms Jack of all trades! Or you will be late."
"Right!"
The blonde gave her another hug and drove away.
Neena turned to the stalker she gained when she got out of the Forbes Residence that morning.
The crow cawed at her.
Neena glared.
"You are really annoying. What do you want?"
It cawed again.
Neena rolled her eyes and turned away.
Her nose crashed with a hard chest.
She stifled a swear. She was sure she knew who she had bumped into.
She looked up.
Stormy blue eyes looked at her in amusement.
"Talking to birds. Nice."
Neena rolled her eyes. She was doing that a lot. "Well, nature has conscious and all that. It's tradition in some cultures to see the animals around them as the reincarnations of gods."
Damon tilted his head. "Even crows?"
"Yup. Even crows. Some say they are the spirits of our ancestors."
He smirked. "Right."
"What are you doing here?"
"I know what you are."
Neena smirked. "Say it. Say it Bella."
He looked confused. "What?"
"Book reference. So, what am I?"
"A witch."
"Nope."
He frowned. "Yes."
"Nah. I'm the Avatar."
His eyes flashed with anger, draining the humour she felt.
Angering No-humanity Damon is a one way ticket to Coffin land. And not the Klaus kind.
"So, what am I Mr Salvatore?"
"Are you a witch?"
"And if I am?"
He smirked. "I need to ask you a favour."
Neena was confused. He didn't want to use her to open the tomb did he?
"What?"
"I want you to not mention to anyone that I am here in Mystic Falls."
"Huh?"
"I forgot to erase your memory last time. Which was a good thing. Came by your new house to do it, and found out you were witch! So yeah, witchy. Don't tell anyone about me yet."
Neena stared at him.
He looked at her with caution.
"Okay."
He looked shocked. "Just like that?"
Neena sighed. "In what conversation would it come up who you are and what you are?"
He nodded. "Saw your little antic with the Blonde. You too were so cute!"
"Yeah... Bye then Mr Salvatore. I have an interview that need to get to," she said.
"Damon."
"What?"
"Call me Damon."
"It was nice to meet you Damon."
He kissed her hand again. "And you, Neena."
Neena glared at him. "Perverted creep."
He shrugged and smirked. "Some say it's romantic."
"Stalking is what it is. Good bye vampire."
"Goodbye Neena."
[Ding!]
'What now?'
[Congratulations to Host 999!
Your favourability with Damon Salvatore had raised to 'Tolerating You!']
'Okay.'
[Ding!]
[Congratulations Host 999!
You have gained the favourability of three Story Characters to above Neutral!
You need 400 points more to unlock System Market!
Keep up the good work.]
She didn't feel accomplished at all about the fact that Damon tolerated her. It just meant he has noticed her and might not kill her immediately. He was sort-of friends with Jeremy and still killed him in the series.
Avoiding Damon Salvatore was something she wanted to do. But he knew that she was a witch so there was no way that would work. And her identity in this world was the sister of Elena Gilbert. She didn't think she could escape the Plot without dying with that identity plastered on her.
Neena walked away from him as fast as she could without it seeming like she was running away.
The interview was taking place in a small building attached to the Restaurant. The people who came to the interview were all high school graduates, and all of them looked nervous. Neena stood out among them in the bright sky blue suit and skirt Caroline had insisted she had to wear. She looked over dressed compared to the rest of them.
Neena's cheeks heated. She ducked her head and sat down.
When the interview began, of the three person panel, Mrs Malcolm, the chief of the branch, had looked at her clothing with a nod.
"I see that you are taking this as a serious interview, Ms Gilbert. Meredith would be proud," the woman said.
Neena gave her a thin smile. "Thank you."
The interview was short.
And as she answered all the questions they threw at her confidently she felt thankful of the preparations Caroline had forced her to do.
Of all the interviews that she had taken in her long life, this was the first one that she did not stutter through.
At the end of it, Mrs Malcolm looked at her with pride.
She introduced her to Wendy Shin who would act as her mentor and trainer for the first week.
Neena frowned. "Just like that?"
Mrs Malcolm laughed. "The first week would be the hardest time of your life dear. It's an evaluation period. If you can not get into the tempo of the establishment in a week you will have to be on probation for the next. You will be fired if we don't see improvement in your performance in a month."
Neena gaped at her. "Isn't that unfair?"
"This isn't the Mystic Grill," Wendy said. "Our customers expect a certain standard for our employees. The only reason why the Restaurant is opening its doors for high schoolers is because of the Mayor's wife. She wanted to give the people of the town a chance to see what high class kitchen was like."
Neena left the place and looked up at the sky. It was deep blue, with pure white clouds floating around. She had only seen skies these in photos before.
A sweet scent brushed past her in the wind.
Neena smiled.
She called Caroline to tell her that she would walk home.
She walked looked at the long green trees and the twittering birds on them with a content smile.
Her feet took her to the Mystic falls cemetery, more specifically to the Gilbert's grave. Neena stared at the headstones.
A deep want welled up inside her. To see their smiling face, to be held in their embrace.
Neena shook her head.
Ever since her bonding with Caroline and Jeremy, she felt different. The distinction between Neena and Aleena blurred even more. She found herself enjoying doing make up and looking pretty. Found herself loving arguing with Caroline about boys, and career.
And the weirdest of all, she was okay with that. Her personality was mutating into Aleena's and yet, there was no panicked. She had tried asking the System about it but it had kept quiet.
Neena walked back to the Forbes Residence.
On the porch, Caroline, Bonnie and Jeremy stood grinning at her.
Liz and Elena were at the door, talking.
Neena smiled.
"I got it!"
Caroline screamed and laughed, rushing towards her. She pulled the girl into a tight hug, laughing.
"I knew you could do it!"
Bonnie pulled her out of the Blonde's clutches into a hug.
"Congrats Aleena!"
Jeremy grinned. "Hey! Good job!"
Liz came to her with a grin and shook hands. "Good job, Aleena."
"Thanks Liz."
Elena looked at the harmonious scene gritting her teeth. It was just a part time job. Why were they all acting like Aleena had won the Noble Prize?
"Congrats... Ally," Elena said.
Bonnie looked at her happily.
Neena nodded. "Thanks, Elena."
That night dinner was pizza and coke.
She started her training the next day at 6 in the morning.
Learning how to handle orders, how to place the food, how to pour the wine, how to greet guests, how to place the cutlery. She spent the entire week waking up early and coming home late, doing her job.
She didn't make any friends because none of them had the time, but she did become a bit closer to Wendy.
It seemed Elena and Jeremy got into another fight during her time away. Jeremy basically ran out the room when the doppelganger's shadow fell in his line of sight.
The doppelganger seemed to blame that on Neena from the glare she got every time they made eye contact. Neena glared back.
She was not a confronting type of person but she was not a pushover. The issues she had with Jeremy was Elena's own fault and Neena blurted that out to the girl three nights into her internship. She was exhausted and just wanted to showered and sleep.
That talk led to the girl to go to the bedroom in a huff and slam the bedroom after herself.
The one who suffered the most in the Gilbert drama was Caroline who had a front row seat to it and Bonnie who had to listen to both her best friends rant about it on the phone.
On the last day of her training Jenna returned to Mystic Falls.
The Gilbert lot returned to their residence the same week.
Caroline had wanted them to stay with her for some more days and Neena had really wanted to. It must get really lonely with Liz hardly ever being home. But she couldn't. She had her Vervain Garden waiting for her, and it was necessary. She had to make sure she had some vervain.
After a celebratory Pizza dinner with everyone, during which time Jeremy and Elena spent brooding and pushing their food around, Neena asked Caroline to stay with them for the night. The Blonde girl had looked at her with hopeful and happy blue eyes, that Neena chocked on a tear.
Elena had scoffed and walked away.
Hurt flashed through Caroline's eyes at that. She said she had some school work to do and had to leave.
Neena tried to force the Blonde cheerleader to stay but she just gave her a sad smile and left.
It was only at night on bed did she realize she didn't have any other means to gain that 400 Experience Points she needed to open the System market.
And there was only one way to do it.
It was time for her to complete the third quest of Meet the Gilbert's Chain Quest. She had to spend an hour talking to Elena Gilbert.
Neena screamed into her pillow just thinking of that Task.
It was going to be a nightmare.
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A/N: Next chapter is going to be long. I know it. You know it. I don't want to write about Elena. Because every time I write her, she ends up even worse than she was in my head.
Is it my imagination that is making Elena seem really hateful or was that the real her I never acknowledged consciously?
Anyway, once again, thank you for reading this far. Next chapter onwards we had episodes to cover.
Also, what do you think of the System? I know that some readers don't like reading Gamer like stories but I tried to make the System scenes as natural as I could.
And someone asked me about status report. If by status report you mean a number crunching thing like attributes – strength, speed, dexterity etc, no I am not doing that. I'm not good with numbers in general and I don't know how actual games Quantify qualities like that.
Don't forget to vote for the chapters you like! 😁
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