So when I made my top 10 non-canon ships I realized I left this one out and I guess I’m kinda glad because because I’m going to talk about it more in depth.

So this to me is the route they should have gone for 1864, but I knew they never would since S1 they were still trying to follow the book, however I do feel they should have adapted to the time period they chose because it’s definitely not the one in the book–they chose the civil war era and completely ignored the context of that and I will never not be annoyed by that.

 Anyway back to Demily??? This is actually one of my early on ships that I though about back in the day. I always felt that they were not only the more interesting route, but a better way of executing Damon’s characterization. He’s a former confederate soldier who left the war because he didn’t agree with it and that’s all that’s actually said on the subject–nothing is ever expanded on that, he just doesn’t agree. Putting him with Emily would have definitely clarified that a lot more. 

Another thing it would have clarified is why Emily saved Damon and why she trusted him with her family. I never quite saw the vested interest she had in either Salvatore but especially Damon. Stefan she at least says he has a kind heart, Damon she actively criticizes him for not being as good as Stefan, so again why save him and trust him without a more concrete history.

I know we always talk about this in context of Bonnie, but I do feel it’s just as relevant to Emily, it would have definitely upgraded her character from something more than just “compliant” slave. There were so many other things that could have been done and I do feel that with Damon and any Bennett it upgrades his likability (I honestly only find him somewhat likable when he’s with Bonnie).

Plus I’m a sucker for forbidden romances but only when a) it’s not incest I don’t do incest maybe a step-sibling but if their blood related I’m out immediately, and b) I actually feels forbidden. The human x vampire never felt all that forbidden to me especially around the point TVD first aired, it was very overdone to the point that “forbidden” just became typical–there really was never the risk they hyped in almost every vampire story. Damon and Emily feel forbidden to me just due to the context. They’re in the South during the Civil War, Emily is a slave, Damon is a former confederate soldier who left because he didn’t share their philosophy–neither can be seen in public together at risk of lynching. There’s just so much there to make a compelling interesting love story between the two that I felt was completely lacking with Katherine.Actually I always feel like there’s a lot of things lacking with Katherine but I won’t get into it.

Looking through my notes with many many story ideas I actually do have one for them: 

Damon falls in love with Emily in 1864. She falls pregnant and gives birth before he’s turned. She tasks him with saving their family. He protests, urges her not to give up and even tries to turn her, but she’s adamant about not going against nature. When she’s burned he gets their family out but then spends the next century wanting revenge over Katherine for turning Emily in and turning him into a vampire along with Stefan.

I do plan on writing it at some point but waay down the line when I’ve finished at least one of my WIPs and there’s more of a developed idea there. 

Conclusion: Damon x Emily would have been an awesome ship that I wish there was more fics about.