hey old friend, whadaya say old friend

[beanchaointe]

[Stiles has told Lydia several times that she doesn't need to stay in Mystic Falls. She's refusing to listen. Things are starting to get worse here, and whatever impending storm is coming is going to be here soon. She puts herself out and about in town when she can, trying to see if she can catch something that might give her a clearer idea of what's going to happen.

What she isn't expecting, is to run into a familiar face.

She's having another text argument with Stiles about her current life choices when she catches a familiar set of cheek bones out of the corner of her eye. She turns towards them, eyes narrowing before she asks:]

Jackson?

Comments

[illtempered]

( Lydia's text fighting and Jackson is text flirting. It's new for him, wanted to. With Ethan it just was. They got each other. With Alex, he doesn't get him, and he kind of likes that. He prides himself on being alert, attainable, and yet here he is, face phone first.

That's -- that voice. He looks up, his face still flushed, an amused smile apparent. )

Lydia?

( And as if they're a chorus, both, together,

"What are you doing here?" )

[beanchaointe]

[In another world, Lydia might have called "jinx." But now isn't really the time for that, and she's just amazed he's here.]

I was driving back to DC and I got sidetracked.

[She answered, now it's your turn, Jackson.]

[illtempered]

I was working a job from one of McCall's world wide wolf networks. What sidetracked you?

( The impending attack isn't a coincidence, is it? )

[beanchaointe]

[She makes a face, before reaching to take his arm and pulling him out of the street.]

Something bad is going to happen here, and I haven't figured out what it is yet.

[illtempered]

( He's never experienced her banshee power firsthand. )

Is that why you're here? To... portend the coming badness? ( He's not trying to ask the stupid question, but he thought being a banshee was about, feeling something and sending in the cavalry. ) They're might be an attack on a supernatural boarding school outside of town. My job collided with someone else's. The foster children were saved and dumped on the school. And being relocated today.

[somanyadjectives]

[Elena and Caroline arrive first, with the assorted ingredients, but by the time newer faces start showing up, the house smells like Italian spices and cooked meats. He didn't have time to make fresh pasta, so it's sadly storebought, but it's enough for spaghetti carbonara and smoked salmon for those looking for something lighter. Add to that the antipasto options, and there's a spread that would make his Italian ancestors proud.

Also booze. It goes without saying.

Elena is chatting with Caroline near the door, as promised, for anyone who might need invitations, glass of wine in hand and so casually comfortable with things that it's almost as though this is a real dinner party and not a torture session at all.]

Buffy Summers

[attainathons]

( While never the girl with the big appetite, her slayer power betrays her. That, and, not eating a full meal since breakfast - and the toast-coffee combination probably didn't count.

With the others dispatched downstairs after eating, Buffy sets up outside by the fire pit. She likes it out here. It's quiet, she can eat in peace, and she doesn't have to listen to what might be going on down in the basement.

She knows what's necessary. But, torturing has never been her strongest suit.

She pairs her Italian with a nice white, taking a whole bottle with her. Something tells her she won't be alone for long. )

[vampireboulevard]

There you are.

[Caroline appears, dragging Elena behind her. They both have glasses in hand, having eaten their fill from the plates inside and settling on either side of Buffy at the fire pit.]

You promised me girl talk, and while yes, this may not be the most ideal scenario, never let it be said that I'm not one to cease an opportunity.

[Elena shakes her head, before taking a sip of her wine.

"I think you can relax, Care. No one ever does."]

[attainathons]

( They better fill those glasses when they're empty with the wine Buffy confiscated for herself (and, luckily, with the girls who found her.)

Buffy does laugh, though, at that. )

Look at you seizing. It's -- well, it's strange to meet you in person. I feel like I got to know you through a phone and sometimes a computer. ( She leans in. ) Does me telling you you're even more gorgeous in person count as girl talk?

Dean Winchester

[cholesterol]

( He lives Sam to the dirty work. Though, he doubts just how dirty things'll get. If he's been dried out, one moment of eye contact and he'll be putty in their hands. Doesn't mean that what he says won't piss anyone off. It's a part of the gig, sometimes. Sam knows it. He knows it.

This is Dean's second plate.

Now, he doesn't know the difference between Italian and authentic Italian but whatever this is, it hits spots he didn't know it could reach. He leaves the salad alone. Salad is not food. (Though, a chopped Italian salad, he might argue either way. Sam could probably get him to eat one of those. With ham and salami and pepperoni all chopped finely together.) This is not that!

He posts up in the living room, checks in with Cas and calls Jack to tell him he's excited, but to also keep his eye out. Blow the horn if he needs to. )

[braveandstupid]

[Eventually the girl talk runs down the bottle of wine Buffy had taken, so Elena is sent in in search of more alcohol. She is not drinking - she has to take care of patients in a few hours - but when you're hanging out with a vampire and a Slayer, the alcohol tends to go fast.

She spots Dean loading up another plate and smirks.]

Stefan always brags about his Italian roots, but when he cooks I believe it.

[cholesterol]

Did you not believe it before? Do vamps like to fake their nationalities here?

( He asks that out of the side of his mouth, like they're conspiring. )

You went through that whole bottle on your own, you'd be a girl after my own heart. Guessing you were sent for a refill.

Damon + Elena/Caroline

[unforgivably]

( Damon's the last to arrive, flanking the newcomers. He'd make with the introductions, but they do that themselves, dispersing into the house. Damon trusts almost everyone else in this house, so he doesn't follow them all the way inside. )

Does it feel wrong we're having a dinner party without Elijah?

( And Alaric for that matter. )

[braveandstupid]

I think it means there's a significantly less chance that someone here is going to wind up getting stabbed.

[It's tradition, but it's a tradition Elena could live with out.]

I'd prefer to keep the bloodshed to my actual job.

["And I think you'd rather not have to replace any rugs."]

[unforgivably]

I guess we were due some bloodshed. It's been so long, I thought our town's reputation was long gone.

( The animal attacks of yesteryear. He does give a glance at his rug choices, tilting his head to Caroline. )

Considering you helped me pick that rug out and traveled to bring it to me, you have an extra horse in the race.

Jackson

[illtempered]

( Jackson settles for the antipasto and side salad, leaning up against the mantle by Damon's fire place. Everyone is nice enough which only means he should be on his best behavior, or something that resembles it. Therapy has done him wonders, as did being in a relationship, but Jackson can only travel so far with politeness.

He smiles when it should and says please and thank you and maybe that should be enough.

Later, downstairs, he'll keep his distance at first, glass of whiskey in hand.

It is like this is a formal dinner party. Funny there's a prisoner here. )

[beanchaointe]

[Let it be known, a formal dinner party is not what Lydia was expecting either. But apparently this is how they do in Mystic Falls.

Lydia's staying close, but at one point she wanders away to get a refill, and after a brief conversation with the massive moose that is Sam Winchester, she comes back to Jackson with relevant info.]

So apparently Sam and Dean are working with Allison. That's how the rest of them already knew about Monroe. And I'm going to assume that part of the reason why we're having a dinner party and not a tense Mexican stand-off is because she vouched for us.

[illtempered]

Then we better be on our best behavior.

( We being him. )

I'll rein it in. Those brothers Allison is working with. Hot and hotter.

Katherine

[shreds]

( You don't have to tell Katherine that she's not wanted here. But, she is. She plays the part of the sous chef with Stefan, turning up the music a little too high at one point and dancing quite haphazardly with a knife.

She takes a few fixings of the fruit of their labors downstairs with her. She'd rather eat in the eye line of their imprisoned hunter than around people who don't want her here.

It's fine. She's used to it. She's a big girl. )

[werewolfqueen]

[Oh look, it's another member of the "No One Wants You Here" Club. Hayley knows she's mostly here to keep up appearances, so while she does take a plate - it's delicious and it would be silly to pass it up - she makes her way downstairs to keep an eye on the main event.

She sees Katherine, gives her a small nod, and then goes to look over the hunter in question.]

For some reason, I thought he'd be bigger.

[The hunter, however, seems a little concerned. "You're Hayley Marshall."]

But at least he's not one hundred percent an idiot.

[shreds]

( Katherine lifts an eyebrow in acknowledgement. It's more than she does for some. As for not wanting her or anyone here, they were business partners once, weren't they? )

They're never bigger.

( Perfect, almost comedic timing. )

And they're always some percentage of idiot. Hayley Marshall. ( Or should she call her Andrea. ) Long time. Good of you to represent all things Klaus.

[vampireboulevard]

[Caroline drives like a bat out of hell, but a relatively safe one, considering. Vampire reflexes make it easy to hit the gas and avoid a lot of obstacles. The faster they get Stiles to the hospital, the better, and she's prepared to compel her way out of any speed trap she happens to get caught in.

Unfortunately, it would have been better if what happened was a speed trap.

She should have seen it coming. She should have been aware of what was happening and diverted accordingly. But by the time she sees the bright headlights, and Lydia shouts, it's already too late, and the truck slams into them at full speed.

For a moment, there's nothing but spinning. The world blurs and as much as she tries to regain control, to a point she's just left at it's mercy, unable to do much until they stop naturally. The wheels hit a dip on the side of the road and they flip, rolling down an incline into the woods behind them and eventually coming to a stop in the shadow of the trees.

It doesn't take her long to assess. Three bleeding people in the car with her. Footsteps coming across the road towards them. She didn't have a lot of time. Stiles was bad when they left the Salvatore House - he's probably worse now. He gets the blood first. As quickly and quietly as she can, she bites into the side of her wrist, and forces it over Stiles' mouth.]

C'mon, Stiles, drink.

[phonetically]

( Stiles is in and out, the lights of the street passing at an angle. He relives the attack, seeing Derek taken from behind, hearing the crackle of electricity and smelling the singed skin. And his roar. But, he couldn't do anything. Because someone got him from behind, too, and then didn't stop once he went down.

He's both there in the backseat and there with Derek.

And then he hears Lydia cry out.

It starts in slow motion, but he quickly blacks out.

Coming to, he barely has time to think before he listens to Caroline. He pushes his head up enough to take the offered blood. Bleary-eyed, he can barely make her out, or anyone else, Lydia in the front seat and - the doctor, isn't she in the back with him? )

[vampireboulevard]

[When she feels her wrist start to stitch back together, she pulls back, trying to keep her head low as she looks at Elena. The other woman is out cold against the window, and she can smell blood, but she knows that she can't do anything for Elena right now.]

Stay down.

[Her voice is a low whisper, but hopefully loud enough for him to hear. She reaches over, tugging at her seat belt and releasing it so that she can move closer to Lydia. She bites down on her wrist again, before gently pulling Lydia's head back and doing the same.]

[phonetically]

( It takes a moment for the blood to enter his system and another minute for his internal injuries to heal themselves. With only cosmetic injuries sewing themselves up, Stiles rises a little too suddenly, not staying down. )

Lydia.

( He blinks, fishing out his phone to call 911 but his hands are too bloody, the surface blood still liquid, and that's when he sees Elena. )

Hey. Hey. ( He fights his seatbelt but it finally snaps back and he sliders over, trying to cradle Elena. He doesn't want to undo her seatbelt yet... )