Hosie~ One Shots

18th Century

Mystic Falls, 18th Century

Mystic Falls was a town steeped in tradition, where the lines between propriety and passion were rigidly drawn. It was a place where appearances mattered, where the roles assigned by society were not to be questioned. Josie Saltzman had grown up knowing this all too well. At twenty-one, she was married to Rafael Waithe, a kind and gentle man who provided her with a comfortable life. Their marriage, like many in their town, had been arranged, and while Josie cared for Rafael, it was more out of obligation than love. She often wondered if this was all there was to life—a quiet, dutiful existence, her days filled with polite conversation and the never-ending upkeep of appearances.

That all changed the day Hope Mikaelson moved to Mystic Falls.

Hope and her husband, Landon Kirby, had come to town from New Orleans. They were well-received, their charm and elegance quickly winning over the local gentry. Landon was eager to establish connections, making friends with the other gentlemen, while Hope, with her striking beauty and fierce intelligence, caught the eye of everyone she met—especially Josie.

Their first meeting had been brief, a chance encounter in the town square. Josie had been walking through the market, picking up fresh flowers, when she saw Hope for the first time. She was standing by the fountain, her eyes lost in thought, and something about her presence had caught Josie's attention. When Hope turned and their eyes met, Josie felt a jolt, as if something deep inside her had awakened. The intensity of that moment lingered long after they parted ways, leaving Josie both intrigued and unsettled.

A few days later, Rafael mentioned that Landon and Hope had invited them to dinner. Josie's heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Hope again, though she quickly buried the feeling, reminding herself that she was a married woman, and so was Hope. Still, the anticipation of their meeting lingered.

The night of the dinner, Josie found herself in front of the mirror longer than usual, fussing over her appearance. She wore a pale blue gown that brought out the color of her eyes, and pinned her hair up with delicate combs. As she studied herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but wonder if Hope would notice her, if she would feel the same strange connection that Josie couldn't seem to shake.

When they arrived at the Mikaelson home, Josie felt her breath catch at the sight of Hope, who greeted them at the door with a warm smile. Hope was dressed in a deep crimson gown that highlighted her striking features, and as their eyes met, Josie felt that same electric pull. They exchanged polite pleasantries, but beneath the surface, there was something more—a silent acknowledgment of the connection they had felt in the town square.

As the evening progressed, Josie and Hope found themselves drawn to each other. Their conversation, at first polite and superficial, soon deepened. They spoke of their lives, their marriages, and the pressures they both felt to conform to the roles expected of them. Hope was candid in a way that Josie found refreshing, her sharp wit and subtle defiance of society's rules captivating her more with each passing moment.

"You seem different from the other women here," Josie remarked as they sipped their wine, away from the watchful eyes of their husbands.

Hope tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "Different how?"

"More...alive," Josie said, searching for the right word. "Like you're not content to just be what everyone expects."

Hope's smile widened, and she leaned in a little closer. "Maybe I'm not. I've never been one to follow the rules just because they exist. I prefer to make my own path."

Josie felt a thrill at her words, a part of her that had long been dormant stirring to life. She wanted to know more, to be close to Hope in a way that went beyond the boundaries of friendship. And it seemed Hope felt the same. Their conversations grew more frequent after that night, finding excuses to see each other—whether it was an impromptu visit to discuss a book, a shared walk through the gardens, or simply meeting in the town square.