Icebreaker [Freya/Henrik]

[Henrik Mikaelson]

Freya Mikaelson

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Excited feet walked patiently beside the stoic steps to his left. Henrik wore a smile as he took another glance up at his beautiful sister. He couldn't believe she was the oldest. But, then again...yeah, he could. He'd never seen her before this town, never even heard her name. But, there was plenty of time to make new memories with this woman. Just like this little outing they'd randomly decided to go on. He definitely wasn't opposed, though. He wanted to get to know her better. Sure, the family was together a lot, but he rarely got any alone time with her, just the two of them. Sorry, guys, he internally voiced to them. It was nothing against them, but...you can't really get close to one person in particular in that type of setting. When the situation occurred, of course, he wasn't one to deny the offer, but still.

Anyways! His lowered his gaze back to look straight in front of him before he saw a little trinket-looking shop, feet stopping in their place. Huh...that looks interesting. He took one more glance up at his sister. I wonder...if she likes that sort of thing. "Hey, Freya...," he began, head turning back to the store before pointing in its direction, "Would it be alright with you if we looked in there?"

[Freya Mikaelson]

Strolling along the sidewalk with easy strides, Freya smiled, enjoying the outside air which carried the slightest hint of a chill. It was a lovely, just slightly overcast day. She felt a wave of tranquility settle over her, and she marveled at what a wonderful thing it was to feel that way within such extraordinary circumstances.

Glancing to her companion, her smile took a fond turn. It warmed her heart to see how excited he appeared over their little outing. It was nice to get a way, just the two of them, the oldest and the youngest. It was something different. It was just simple. Things could often take a very intense turn when the entire family was gathered, and so it was sometimes nice to break away for a bit. And on such a pleasant day, it was just about perfect.

The boy stopped then outside of an antique-looking store, and Freya observed the contents from within the window. It certainly looked interesting. At his question, she tilted her head in thought before deciding that it really had piqued her curiosity. She looked down at him and nodded, "yes, alright. it looks like a thing or two might catch my eye."

[Henrik Mikaelson]

He gave a small laugh at how proper she spoke to him but showed a relieved smile at her response. "Really? Great," he reached his hand out to grab hers as he hurried over to the small building. He loved how they could just do...pretty much anything on days like this. It was so carefree, and Freya was never really against most of his suggestions. He liked how open she was to trying new things. It was honestly a really refreshing outlook.

When he reached the door, he took hold of the handle, opening it wide so she could enter. "Here you go."

[Freya Mikaelson]

"What a gentleman you've become," Freya winked at her brother, before stepping inside. He was just boundless energy, wasn't he? He had such a childlike enthusiasm, that it was often very easy to overlook the fact that he had been around for so long. She offered him a final smile, before lifting her eyes and looking around the shop, eyes glistening a little at all of the artifacts and curious trinkets. It was a little fascinating, actually. Rather delightful, in a way.

[Henrik Mikaelson]

"How do you know I haven't always been this way?" he asked, giving her a joking smile as he followed her inside. Hm. His eyes trailed over the store, briefly taking it all in. It's nice. He stepped further into the store, browsing a few of the shelves and they're contents. "It really...peaceful, isn't it? A lot of places seem like they're shouting out at people for attention, trying to draw them in with how extravagant they are. But this one...it has a really quiet calling, don't you think? It's...comfortable." He turned slightly to look back at her, his eyes gauging her reaction. He smiled after seeing her. The way her eyes glistened as she observed her surroundings, the faintest formation of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips...he could tell she felt the same way, even remotely.

[Freya Mikaelson]

Freya turned to browse a few things, trying to take it all in, before glancing back at her brother with a raised brow in response to his first comment. "Well, have you always been this way?" She supposed it was very true that he could have been. She hadn't known him before. At the next thing he said though, she tilted her head and considered it before smiling, nodding her agreement. "Oh, yes, it does have that feeling. It is calming. It's..." She considered the best word for it, before her smile widened. "Pleasant."

[Henrik Mikaelson]

His smile softened at the word, his gaze becoming distant as he took it in. "You're right." He turned back to look back at one of the trinkets. "That exactly the word for it." After another moment, he completely turned around to face her, his smile widening. "But, in response to your first question..." He looked up in thought, placing a single finger against his chin in a joking manner. "I probably haven't always been like this. I mean, if I have, think of what a baby I must have been. Opening doors for people before I could even talk...now, that's just crazy." He let out a soft laugh at the thought, before his gaze again rested on her. "I just meant, for as long as I can remember, I tried to be...the best person I could possibly be, so...if being a 'gentleman' is included in that description, I guess I've always tried to be that, too."

He gave her a grin, "I'm glad it's paid off, anyway. I like being nice to others when I can...so, why shouldn't I just be that way all the time? You know what I mean?"

[Freya Mikaelson]

Freya's smile turned fond again. And just like that, the enthusiastic young boy sounded more like the 1,000 year old soul that he was. It was an extremely mature mindset to have, one that so many found difficulty obtaining. She even struggled with it herself from time to time. She had to admit, she wasn't always the nicest of people, there were times where she could be quite harsh. She really admired this aspect of her little brother, simply because it was such a genuine goal of his. To want to be the best person he could. It was something she definitely overlooked, but it was something that was incredibly important in this time.

"That's a wonderful thing to strive for, Henrik," she told him, voice softening. She then chuckled, "and yes, that would be a sight for sure. It would be very impressive."

[Henrik Mikaelson]

"Right? I'll have to ask one of the others about that at some point," his smile again faded a little, softening as he looked at her. "What about you, Freya? There must be something you strive for, right?"

[Freya Mikaelson]

"Be sure and let me know what they say," Freya said to him, before her eyes shifted to look out across the store in thought. Something she was striving for? Well, for the longest time it had always been to escape, to be free of Dahlia. After that, all she had wanted was to feel what it was like to feel part of a family. She had gone so long without it. But, now...now that the world had fallen into such a dire state, was just starting to rebuild itself again, the thing she was striving for had changed.

"Well," she inhaled deeply, as she returned her eyes to him. "I suppose that what I'm striving for is to restore this world to where it once was, to do everything within my power to help it stand on its own two feet again. The future of everything and everyone relies on our ability to survive this. I'm willing to make any sacrifice necessary to ensure that future generations have a world where they can thrive in again."

[Henrik Mikaelson]

Henrik's gaze lowered at her response. He could understand making sacrifices, doing everything in your power for the right cause, but...honestly, people like that...sometimes gave up too much. They didn't focus on themselves enough, which, in turn, could hurt the ones you love. "I understand...but, don't ignore your own needs, Freya." He looked back up to her with a soft smile. "I want to see you have your own happiness, too. Sometimes, it's okay to do things for yourself."

He turned back around to the shelf behind him, lifting his hand to graze a few of the antiques. "I really admire you, Freya...how strong you are. But, it's okay to have a few weaknesses. After all, we're only human."

[Freya Mikaelson]

"That's true," Freya nodded, taking up his lead in continuing to browse the shelves. Perhaps she did often demand too much of herself, sometimes overlooking her own needs for others, choosing to appear strong even if she felt weak, but it was a fair trade, in her opinion. Times like these required that some people make that sacrifice. She smiled to herself, "but, I am content with how things are. It...brings me a certain measure of happiness to look ahead, to feel that the sacrifices we are all making will have achieved something that extends far beyond ourselves." She looked over at her brother, highly appreciative of his concern, and her smile widened. "I simply have to find happiness in simpler things, the things that matter most. My family, or example, and peaceful little moments like this."