Phoenix Rising

1:1: Down in New Orleans

Klaus, Kol and I arrive to New Orleans, entering a marketplace to see a black woman starting to put away her things after she notices Klaus, who is smiling at her and we sit down in front of her. "Good afternoon. Time for one more?" He asks. "I have nothing to say to you." She says. "Oh, now that's not very amiable, is it? You don't even know us." Kol says and I give a small laugh. "I know what you are. Half-vampire, half-beast. You're the hybrid." She says, looking directly at Klaus, who smiles at her. "I'm the Original Hybrid, actually, but that's a long story for another time." He says. "A very long story." I say. "We're looking for someone. Awitch. Perhaps you might be able to help me find her. Jane-Anne Deveraux." Klaus says and the woman obviously knows her name. "Sorry, I don't know." She says. "Well, now that's a fib, isn't it?" Klaus asks, taking her hand, smiling. "Now, you see, I know that you're a true witch amongst this sea of poseurs, so enough with the fabrications. I've quite a temper." He says and she pulls her hand back. "Witches don't talk outta school in the Quarter. The vampire won't allow it. Those are the rules. I don't break Marcel's rules." She says and I see a look of shock appear on both Kol's and Klaus' faces. "Who's Marcel?" I ask. "Someone we believed was dead." Kol says. "Where do you suppose I might find Marcel?" Klaus asks, smiling. "Rousseau's." She says. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it love?" Klaus asks, putting a 100$ bill in her tip jar before we walk off to Rousseau's.

We soon arrive to see a light-skinned man singing 'How You Like Me Now' and I cheer for him along with the rest of the people in the restaurant as Marcel finishes singing. "Thank you." He says and gets off stage to take a shot with some friends of his before looking over at us and Kol has his hand wrapped around my waist and all the vampires look at us. "Klaus? Kol?" He asks as Klaus and Marcel stare at each other. "Marcel." Klaus says. "Must be a hundred years since that nasty business with your papa." Marcel says as Kol lets my waist go and we step forward a little and so does Marcel. "Has it been that long, mate?" Kol asks. "The way I recall it, he ran you outta town. Left a trail of dead vampires in his wake." Marcel says. "And yet how fortunate you managed to survive. My father, I'm afraid, this one recently incinerated to dust." Klaus says, patting my shoulder. "This little pretzel stick killed an Original? I'll make sure not to take away his videogames." Marcel says, grinning before laughing as his vampires are right behind him as we move closer. "Well, if I'd known you were coming back in town, if I had a heads-up.." Marcel says, smiling. "What, Marcel? What would you have done?" Klaus asks, stepping forward so that they're facing each other and I grip Kol's wrist, wondering what's gonna happen next. "I'd have thrown you a damn parade." Marcel says, as I sigh in relief, letting my grip on Kol's wrist go as Marcel and Klaus laugh like old friends, hugging each other and Marcel rests his hands on Klaus' shoulders. "Niklaus Mikaelson. My mentor, my savior, my sire. Let's get you a drink. You can bring the kids along with you." Marcel says, grinning at Kol and I.

We're sitting at a private table and Marcel starts pouring drinks for the four of us. "It is good to see you. But how the hell did you get stuck with babysitting?" He asks, smiling at Kol and I. "Well, there's a.. long story for how these two got together but another long story short, this one here hasn't tried to kill my siblings and I like his own siblings tried to do. Doppleganger/Phoenix if you want the correct terminology." Klaus says. "A Phoenix? I've never heard of that being a real thing before. What can you do, kid? Fly, bring yourself back to life? Start fires?" Marcel asks, downing his drink. "I don't know what all I can do." I say, sipping on mine and feel Kol put a hand around my waist and we see Klaus change the subject. "It's good to be home. Although please tell me the current state of Bourbon Street is not your doing." He says and Marcel laughs. "Something's gotta draw in the out-of-towners, otherwise we'd all go hungry. I got a rule about kids, so don't worry, you won't be eaten." Marcel says, grinning as I see Klaus glance behind him and looks back to Marcel. "I see your friends are daywalkers." Klaus says and Marcel smiles. "Yeah, yeah, I shared the secret of your daylight ring with a few buddies. Just the inner circle, though. The family." He says. "Tell me. How did you find a witch willing to make daylight rings?" Klaus asks, smiling while holding his drink. "I got the witches around here wrapped around my finger." Marcel says and Klaus laughs. "Is that so? I'm looking for a witch by the name of Jane-Anne Deveraux. Has some business with me." He says. "You're looking for Jane-Anne? You probably oughta come with me." Marcel says, grinning and laughs as he stands up. "Showtime!" He exclaims.