Let the moment go… Don't forget it for a moment, though

[jockwitch]

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the preceding

[jockwitch]

( Outside on the lawn, you're trying to find your seat, perhaps accepting a pre-graduation glass of champagne, mingling, or, in some cases keeping a close eye out.

Upstairs, you might be getting ready for the event itself. Changing. Receiving or giving gifts or an encouraging word. Maybe some last minute inspiration. (If a glass of champagne snuck its' way upstairs, this is Mystic Falls)

There are saved seats, at the back and on the sides for out of town guests, specifically those meant to be backup. )

the pre-precedings

[somanyadjectives]

[Stefan got in late the night before, after making sure everything was ash the way it needed to be. By the time he gets home, Buffy's asleep, and by the time he rouses the next morning, Katherine and Damian are retreating to the bedroom. He takes a moment to listen, before grumbling and rolling over to press a kiss against Buffy's shoulder.]

Good morning.

[attainathons]

( Buffy's dress sits over the chair in the corner, ready to be steamed in the morning.

Unlike most everyone else, Buffy crashed shortly after Katherine and Damian confirmed the hunter was spelled in the basement. While she has lived on less sleep, she is older and there are times she feels the underlying exhaustion. She may be dating a vampire, but she can also get her beauty rest.

Buffy sleeps soundly, doesn't even stir when Stefan wakes. She curls into him when she feels his lips on her shoulder. She rolls over completely. Nothing can keep that smile off of her face. )

Morning. Derek? Stiles?

( Romantic, right? But, she needs her updates. Did they rescue Derek. Is Stiles dead? Did he transition? It's only been a few hours, but Mystic Falls moves faster than Scotland. Research takes longer. Tactical plans are made. Here in the blink of an eye, four things could happen all at once.

And did. )

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam is feeling very much like a fish out of water in these fancy proceedings. He opts for grabbing a glass of champagne and making his way to the back where he can keep an eye on things.

He's here for Jack, but he hasn't lost sight of the bigger picture. His eyes keep scanning the room for any sign of trouble.

He could probably use someone to talk to so he looks a little less conspicuous, being as tall as he is.]

[matriarchate]

( A witch contact dropped Allison's and Scott's graduation outfits for the day. While it is not her first choice, she does wear it well. She's got a dagger ready against her thigh and knuckles in her clutch. Not to mention, she just has to tug her necklace off, improvise and whip someone. She's got hand to hand covered if need be. Her hair is half up and half down, tied with a black ribbon that otherwise she'd use to wrap her hands. A little of everything.

Allison can see a cry from help from across the room, and while she carries the champagne for looks, she only plans on setting it down next to her chair. Until the event ends without a hitch, she's on the clock.

Stopping next to Sam, she scans the crowd as they disperse from the main lobby and find their seats. )

We're sitting on the right, Dean and Scott, the left. ( Castiel gets the middle He has an actual seat, and a ticket. Does she say it? 'You clean up well.' Is it cliché? It's true. ) You have someone graduating, too, don't you?

[saveslives]

[Jo is having a hard time believing that the twins have grown up this fast, but they have and this is happening. And since her better half is off making sure this whole thing goes off without a hitch, she is left by herself in the parents corner for now, drinking her own champagne and occasionally socializing with the other parents.

Also trying not to be emotional about it. These are her babies. They're all grown up.]

[cholesterol]

( Jack's -- well, like, three. But, also in his twenties. But, also eighteen. And while this started out as a charade, for Dean it became something else, something he could be proud of Jack for. Jack could've been doing it to make it up to them, to try and make it right, but Dean let that go. Dean passed into pride when he realized Jack found somewhere he felt he belonged.

So, he's a little choked up. On edge, but, misty-eyed. Dean's never met an alcoholic beverage he didn't like. )

They uh, they grow up fast, don't they?

the proceedings

[jockwitch]

( the salvatore school's senior year walks their processional, taking their seats at the front. there are speeches made by the mayor, by stefan salvatore as one of the namesakes of the salvatore school, and lizzie saltzman.

it is not interminably long, but there are performances. there's a string quartet. a choir.

it's an event.

it's the perfect time for small, quiet exchanges or hidden messages sent to one another. or, perhaps, it's a time for reflection and looking to the future. )

[swillpot]

[This is probably not the best time. He can't remember what time the ceremony was happening or when Ric might be doing things but Ric is the only contact he has, so he sends the message and hopes it gets where it needs to go.]

The Colony has witches at the hospital. Powerful ones.

[daydrinker]

( Alaric's cell is on silent, but still buzzing. Considering the possible threats, he does carefully slip it out of his pocket. He looks to Jo, sets a hand on hers and leans in. )

Any reason why high level members of the Colony coven are in Mystic Falls hospital?

the postmortem

[jockwitch]

( or, the afterparty.

the shockingly (or not so) open bar, sits on the outskirts of assembled tables, assigned to grads but free for all for the guests. waiters also pass around hors d'oeuvres. take a spin around the dance floor with the DJ or slow dance along to the string quartet.

or, if you have more serious or secret business, head on inside the Lockwood estate. but don't go into the off limits wing. and did you see a glimpse of Tyler Lockwood himself? )

[vampireboulevard]

Tyler Lockwood!

[Yes, Caroline spots him as she's making her way back from giving Scott his tour. Yes, she sees him sneaking around in his own house.]

What are you doing here?

[recrudesce]

( tyler snuck in, or tried to. luckily, she catches him already dressed. he's got his suitcase rolling behind him. that's right, he's grown up. no longer is he the duffelbagger, caroline forbes.

he turns, a slightly sheepish, caught look on his face. )

I heard there was a graduation. Don't you need a Lockwood ambassador?

( buying it? )

Jeremy wanted eyes on the situation. I agreed. You are looking headmistressy. What do I have to do to be sent to your office?

[werewolfqueen]

[Hayley also spots Tyler Lockwood as she's making her way through the party. It's been almost twenty years since they were last in the same room together, let alone the same town, and she had planned to keep her distance.

But after living with the Originals for all these years and seeing what kind of damage unsettled grudges can do, part of her feels inspired to try. She can't (and won't) speak for Klaus, but she can speak for herself.

Taking one of the champagne glasses off one of the trays floating through the room, she makes her way closer, holding out the glass to him as an olive branch.]

Hey.

[She lets the glass hang there, before she takes a breath.]

I swear I didn't poison it.

[recrudesce]

( Tyler's kept to himself. He's here to be the muscle and for Caroline's success. Damon bothers him once, and Stefan says his hello's. He saw Hayley from afar, and Klaus. He's planned on keeping his distance and playing nice. But, she doesn't. She approaches. And with an olive branch.

After a second, he accepts the glass. )

I deserve the wolfsbane if you did.

[havethings]

( Hope needs to be told to stay put, that things with Dr. Gilbert are under control, but even with her being better adjusted, with who her parents are, she's still headstrong and independent.

This is about her graduating, not about other threats, unless those threats descend upon graduation. Then, she and the other students have family and faculty permission. She shouldn't want that to happen. It's actually a nice affair. She went to the Lockwood property once for a field trip. She's been in their cellar, by Fell's church. Where Tyler Lockwood once locked himself up.

So. Fine. Hope can play it off, she can have fun. She can pick at the food on her plate and smile, and marvel at both of her parents being here. Cami, too, but she is -- alive according to the text she gets back. Which means Elena is okay.

Hope accepts a dance from Landon, for old times' sake, but leaves the dance floor once MG and Kaleb do one of their coordinated dances. And soon it's all the vampires. Things are more prom than graduation.

She still made it. She survived. She graduated. And nobody attacked graduation. Is that because their target all along was Dr. Gilbert? )

[polydeukes]

[Josie hangs back, giving Hope a chance to get her congratulations from her parents, and her dance with Landon. She knows she's going to have Hope to herself for the whole summer, so he can allow these moments now, but there's still an edge of impatience to it.

Once Hope is on her own, she makes her way closer and offers her a smile.]

Think I might steal you for a dance?

[ergowwwd]

( Jack likes parties. He likes this parties more than any at the Falls, in the woods, or by the old Mill (which should be called the Mill, what other mills are around?), but he likes the music and he always likes alcohol. That's the Dean he was raised to be.

He also has a question to ask, and rounds to make. But, first, he eats. He mingles. He thanks Headmistress Forbes. It is a good day to be Jack Winchester.

More to Jack's speed, some of the time, he sits inside on a couch, reading one of his favorites.

He's never been good at socialization over a long period of time. Eve though he likes people. He's just not like other people. He never has been. He's still alert, like most others are, but he's happy to be here. And hopefully, happy to see the world. )

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam has mostly been on the fringes of things, keeping an eye on the room and not mingling much with the parents. Cas seems to have that handled, given that he has actual relationships with the other parents that didn't involve late night hunting adventures.

That being said, he eventually notices Jack is missing, and weaves his way through to find him on the couch with a book.]

What're you reading?

[jockwitch]

( Lizzie speech is about being who we need to be for ourselves and for our world. that in trying to be the best, we often make mistakes, but the best thing we can do is be there for each other. we can do good. even if we aren't always good. but that's what they've fought against and explored the nature of. who are they to each other and to the world. it's got a slight edge to it, as most of what lizzie says does. but for the most part? it's hopeful. she loves this school even if she was never good at showing it.

for once, a part is not about lizzie and she is not playing at being ms. popular. she is just enjoying herself.

sure, she's stressing about the theme, the drinks, and the food, and everyone having a good time, but, this is also for her. she can totally have fun. )

[saveslives]

[Jo gave her girls some space to talk with their friends and enjoy the party, but when she catches Lizzie standing alone, she makes her way closer, sliding an arm around her shoulders.]

I'm really proud of you, you know.

[vampireboulevard]

[As the night winds down, the parents leave with the children and the manor begins to empty, Caroline feels her energy being to flag. Not sleeping at all the night before and having to be "on" for all the parents can sap even a vampire's resistance, and she finds herself retreating to one of the couches in Mayor Lockwood's old office.

She drops into it with a heavy sigh, reaching down to slide one of the heels off and rub the arches of her feet. Sleeping in her own bed tonight will be nice.

Hopefully nothing gets in the way of that.]

[widenecked]

( Caroline has a job to do, so Ryan gives her the floor, except for the dance she asks for. He gives her that. He also helps some of the staff to clean up. Old habits die hard for him, even being a gentleman and helping the help. They've never been the help for him. They're people, too.

Once they're cleared, he finds Caroline in the study. )

Hey.

( Deciding, he steps inside and sits next to her on the couch. )

[saveslives]

[After dropping off Elena, Jo makes a run to Walgreens (the only thing open at this time of night) and picks up a couple pints of Lizzie's favorite ice cream. Once she's home, she checks in with Ric to let him know Elena got home okay and she's fine, before heading off to find her daughter.

While they always shared a room at the Salvatore School, at the actual Saltzman House, the girls always had rooms of their own. Places to retreat to when things became too much. She makes her way down to the end of the hallway, before knocking lightly on Lizzie's door.]

Lizzie? Ready for ice cream?

[jockwitch]

( Ric, uncharacteristically, is not reading something, in bed or otherwise. He's just enjoying a nightcap. Kisses Jo on the cheek.

The girls are back at their parents since school is closed and they've graduated. They still have things to move, but for tonight, it's nice to spend it at home.

Lizzie's in her bedroom, separate from Josie's in the house. Their bedrooms were separate, the older they got, not like at school. They'll probably spend the night up talking anyway, when she gets back.

Lizzie, in pajamas, sets her phone aside and gets up from her bed. )

Come in. Did you get what you needed to get done?