everyonelives | hey old friend, whadaya say old friend

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hey old friend, whadaya say old friend

[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?

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[Caroline thinks she sees where this is going, but of course she has a picture of him. Caroline Forbes is the queen of selfies and dropping pictures in the group chat.

And she also knows that if she tries to deny it, Elena would call her bluff. So she fishes out a picture and passes her phone over to Buffy.]

I don't think he's not one? I just ... I don't know. Even in my advanced age, guys are still weird.

Advanced age. I don't think you can look like that and call yourself advanced. Not that you're not one of the smartest women I know. Between you and Willow, I think you could take over a small country.

( Is this the wine? It's probably the wine. Clearly, she should pour herself more wine! And then Caroline. )

He's a honey. He's the entire nest.

( But, nests sting. Don't go there Caroline. )

( Timing really can be everything, or it can come with two squealing women (Elena and Buffy) as Ryan's face fills the screen.

Because Caroline is getting a call. )

["See? That's what I was saying!" Elena says as the phone rings and Caroline hurriedly pulls it back out of Buffy's hands.]

I'll be taking that over there.

[She points to the other side of Damon's back yard. She's briefly grateful that Elena doesn't have super hearing anymore so that she can at least have some kind of privacy on this call.

Little does she know, her body language gives her away to her best friend every time, and Elena's totally going to give Buffy a play-by-play. Still, Caroline takes a breath and answers the phone as she walks away.]

Hey, Ryan. Everything okay?

( Rewinding back Ryan's night, he found Jo, Alaric, and Klaus in his office, doing what else, drinking. It's a wonder Alaric can stand Klaus being in his school at all, but he accepted his money, he has to accept his presence.

Needless to say, Ryan spent time with a very romantic couple and an overly romantic philanthropist. Ryan's always liked love, when it works out. He loved Taylor. Loves that Sandy and Kirsten made it and sends Summer and Seth gifts and FaceTimes. And tries to figure out TikTok to watch the kids.

But when it comes to him? His job took priority. And then an accident.

Drunk Alaric always says things he shouldn't and then Jo jumps in, goading him. Klaus, amused, sips something older than all of them and dispenses with rational advice, coming from someone who will always love Caroline Forbes.

Which is weird enough. Buzzed and brave, he makes the call from outside in the hall. )

Hey, yeah. I was -- Alaric - Jo, everyone is safe.

( Short. To the point. Kind of sweet? Is that a reason to call her? )

Okay, good.

[There could be worse people to be stuck with. She would also be surprised to know that Klaus is encouraging him, but at least he's accepted that she's moved on? There has to be something to that, right?

Anyhoo.]

So, what's up?

( Not encouraging. Intense eye contact was made. But, Klaus is happy. Klaus doesn't really think he has a chance. Goading him is setting him up for failure. )

I - wanted to check in. On the hunter and - everything. See if you needed backup.

( Jo just sits back, smiling. Alaric shakes his head. Weak, weak. )

Oh. All good here.

[She does smile a bit, though, because that was sweet of him.]

They're in the interrogation phase now, which has devolved into arguing about what step two is going to be now that they have the information.

[Everything is fine, which means everything isn't going to stay fine. Now's as good a time as any.]

Everyone getting along. You said not everyone - does.

( He'll work into it. Just checking in is swoon worthy. And he smolders. He knows the effect he has when he wants to. He hasn't perfected it over the phone, however. )

No, but thankfully Damon's house is big enough that we could all find our own corners.

[Is she happy that Hayley and Katherine are besties now? No, not really, but at least they have each other.]

We're making it work.

Are you coming back here tonight, or staying there?

( Now is hardly the time but he has a giddy (drunk) Alaric and an amused Jo and Klaus is somewhere else now. )

Probably coming back. Unless the world decides to end before the end of the night.

[She sounds like she's kidding, but it might. This is Mystic Falls after all.]

I'll probably just drop Elena at the hospital before heading home.

If the world does end, it was nice knowing you, Caroline Forbes. Thank you for saving my life.

( A beat. )

If not, I'll see you back at your apartment.

It's been nice knowing you too, Ryan Atwood.

[She can't help the smile that crosses her face at the thought, and she can't help but feel that little dip of disappointment that has her thinking this might not have been what he called for.

Still, she'll let him go all the same.]

I'll text you when I'm on my way back.

( And he ... hangs up. He fails. He usually fails. This is not his strong suit. He'll get there.

He'll also be back there, waiting in Caroline's living room.

Probably with a beer open. )

[She can't help the smile that crosses her face as she hangs up the phone, and when she turns back to Elena, Elena is giving her that I know that smile face best friends have. She rolls her eyes a bit as she starts to make her way back, before stopping halfway across the yard.

Elena frowns and sits up. "Caroline?"]

I smell blood.

[And she's going to go in search of said blood, brb.]

( Stiles did a lap with Derek. He told Stiles he could handle it himself, but Stiles didn't care. He's not in high school anymore. He has a say. (And yeah, some of the time, he has maybe ... a little less faith in Derek. Just a little.) He didn't even talk his ear off the entire time. Derek caught wind of a conversation in the backyard. Nothing to write home about.

Stiles is the one that heard a twig snap.

Then, and only then, did everything move too fast. He felt something hit him, out of nowhere. And then he feels the pulse of electricity surging through him. And he hears the jolt that must hit Derek who was right behind him. They only hit Stiles once - probably because they don't need him to stay down.

They do hit him once more over the head.

They're right up above the backyard. As Stiles crawls, he tries to call out, tries to stand and get to his feet. His knees buckle before he can and he tumbles down the hill, and right onto the concrete of Damon's back patio, right at the feet of one Caroline Forbes. )

Oh my God!

[Caroline drops immediately, assessing him for any obvious wounds. There's the quiet mantra of don't be a dead body don't be a dead body don't be a dead body running through her head.

But he's breathing. He's moving. He's not dead. Which means:]

Elena!

[The cry comes high and fast, jerking Elena out of her seat and to her feat. She darts over and avoids repeating Caroline's words as she drops down on her knees next to Stiles.

"My name's Elena. I'm a doctor. Can you tell me your name?"]

( Coughed up blood drips from his mouth onto the ground, before Elena turns him over. )

St - ( He coughs. ) Stiles. Lydia...

She's inside. She's safe.

[She isn't sure if that's the reassurance he was looking for, but it's the one she has to give as she examines him. She looks up to Caroline, and she gets to her feet to follow the silent command as the blond heads back to the door.

"On it."

Elena nods gratefully before trying to keep track of all the injuries. She's concerned about him not being able to speak, but that might just be the shock.]

Stiles, can you tell me what happened?

( He wasn't quite asking about her as much as for her. )

Hunters got the drop. We were just back up.

( Dean, gun ready, sees Caroline. )

What happened?

["Hunters in the woods." Which is the important thing as she pauses with them in the doorway. She doesn't know what to make of this new guy, but she's willing to give the injured human the benefit of the doubt. "Going to see if the name Stiles means anything to Lydia."

Which ... what kind of name is Stiles, but she manages to keep that to herself.

Meanwhile, Elena is finishing her initial examination.]

No stab or puncture wounds. Did you hit your head?

( Dean nods, letting Caroline go, and then joins Elena by -- some guy. )

He good?

( Is he alive? He's alive. He gestures to Damian with his gun, go up and left, Dean's going right, meet at the front.

Stiles tries to move, to get up, but he's disoriented from being hit and his eye is starting to swell. He can feel it. )

My head was in a Heathers reenactment. Modernized, I doubt it was a croquet mallet. -- They hit me.

[Damian nods and stalks off in the indicated direction, knife in hand and ready to pounce if needed. Elena looks up before nodding.]

He's not dying but I do want to take him to the hospital for a CT scan.

[Especially if he was hit in the head.]

Just to be safe.

[And then, his phone rings in his pocket, and Elena raises an eyebrow.]

You want me to get that?

( Dean nods at that, but the cavalry will be up behind them, he figures. Dean rounds one side of the house, listening for anything, as well as keeping abreast of any movement.

Stiles' head lolls back. )

Knock yourself out. 'Less it says' Bureau, then hold it to my ( He coughs. ) ear.

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