you know it isn't massacres and laughter all day long still there's something about a war

[moralitypolice]

Comments

[maleficum]

I was thinking about it.

[Because no, he was solely here to ruin Bela's day.]

The solstice always has great food. I haven't actually attended one in a while though.

[moralitypolice]

So, this is about Bela. You really need to see her. Is someone dying?

( Is it a matter of life and death? This doesn't seem to be a last ditch effort. Just glib, sarcastic banter. )

[enjoythe_ride]

["Not yet."

Which is far too glib for the reality that it is. Because if this is forced any higher up the food chain, Bela sure might. It doesn't matter that she's a vampire now. Witches have ways.

However before he can continue, he's interrupted.]

Though someone might before lunch is out.

[Bela tips her head to the side as she reaches the table.]

You know how I feel about party crashers, David.

["Yeah, well. Desperate times, similar measures."]

[moralitypolice]

He says he's here because you're dodging his calls. I can't possibly see why.

( One who is also glib? Bonnie Bennett. Also, no vampire boy toy. )

[enjoythe_ride]

[She raises an eyebrow because David hasn't been ... oh.]

Let me guess. You're the warning shot?

[David shrugs with a smirk. "Be grateful it wasn't Harvey."

Bela rolls her eyes as she goes to take her seat.]

Small favors, I suppose.

[moralitypolice]

Is this a shake down?

( Bonnie, that's not how people outside of cop movies talk. And apparently, you.

"Witches. Always so droll." Here, Elijah Mikaelson comes striding up to her table. "Bonnie. It's good to see you." )

You called Elijah Mikaelson a vampire boy toy?

[maleficum]

[David glances over at her before talking out of the corner of his mouth.]

Not to his face.

[But that's be sides the point and also David ... has no fucks to give being scared of Original vampires.]

Elijah. Always a pleasure.

[moralitypolice]

( "Yes, I do believe it is." Or, rather, it has to be. Elijah plays the game, too. Aligning himself with Bela Talbot has brought certain... scrutiny onto him. But it's not as if his entire family isn't scrutinized.

Bonnie sits up straighter. )

Elijah. It's been a long time.

( "It has. And how is the hamlet of Mystic Falls?" )

Modernizing. Bela, should I be worried?

[enjoythe_ride]

Not at all.

[Bela moves to take her seat.]

Elijah and I have been traveling together for some time. Is that a problem?

[moralitypolice]

I mean the witch who talks out of the side of his mouth like it's a personality trait.

( Yes, she's talking about you, David, in front of you. )

[enjoythe_ride]

[Bela nods, before turning to the witch in question.]

Could this wait until after lunch, David?

[David, who had been intently stirring his glass and pretending like he wasn't being talked about like he's not even there, looks up with a nod. Fine.

"I'll be at the bar."

And with that, he will gather his drink and perch at the bar across the room.]

[uniquelyvulnerable]

He is ... persistent.

( Bonnie watches him take his leave and then turns back.

"I'm guessing this usually happens? People needing something for you? People tracking you down." )

[enjoythe_ride]

Sometimes. When you're one of the best in the business, it has it's downsides.

[And Bela is one of the best. Especially since Damian has effectively taken himself out of the business.]

[moralitypolice]

You handled it well. Sorry for the boytoy comment.

( She really just wanted to get him into trouble.

Elijah just brings his hands up. It's fine. He's heard worse... And back to Bela. )

About our thing.

[enjoythe_ride]

Yes. You had some questions about the Gemini Coven?

[They would have at least addressed that much, before agreeing to meet in person.]

What can I do for you?

[moralitypolice]

My friend's daughters. They're Gemini. And twins.

( She lets Bela piece it together. )

[enjoythe_ride]

Mmmm.

[That is a tricky one. It certainly is easy to put the pieces together.]

You want to stop the merge.

[moralitypolice]

They're 18? But, we know what happens when they turn 21. We know that it's never actually been stopped, but I had an idea and that's where you come in. The merge, it, deals in one of them absorbing the other - and their energy. Is there something, a conduit, that could ... take the energy instead? One that might -- leave them both alive.

( She knows it's a long shot. )

[enjoythe_ride]

I don't think it's that simple.

[Bela knows that there's someone in this restaurant who could likely answer those very questions, if the rumors about the Colony are true. But that would likely entail a quid pro quo that Bonnie wouldn't be able to afford.]

Their energy is still their's. It doesn't matter where the energy to, losing it would still kill them. It's not as though there's some external energy that's possessing them.

[moralitypolice]

Have you dealt in ancient rituals?

( And not just objects... )

[enjoythe_ride]

Some, when I've needed to.

[And here's what she knows about this one.]

The Merge is a curse, Bonnie. It's a punishment. I know the twins didn't do anything wrong - this happened long before their time - but it isn't as simple as diverting the magic. You're going to have to dig deeper than that.

[moralitypolice]

We do. And have. We've just come up empty.

( And it feels like this might be that, too. )

What is the punishment for?

[enjoythe_ride]

You'll have to ask the coven who cast it.

[Some things are much harder to find, and can get distorted with time, the longer things go on.]

Though I'm fairly certain that the term punishment is used loosely.

[moralitypolice]

The coven was wiped out. Completely. Red Wedding-style. ...I was actually there. Unless there's someone out there who escaped any recording.

( Maybe?? )

[enjoythe_ride]

[She shakes her head.]

It wasn't cast by the Gemini Coven. It was cast on the Gemini coven.

[She swallows, weighing her options because sending Bonnie in the crosshairs of the Colony is dangerous enough. She may be a powerful Bennett witch, but the Colony has been pulling the strings for almost as long as her bloodline has been alive.

Still, David is at least semi-trustworthy. And given what he's generally up to, he might be sympathetic to her cause.]

And if you want clearer answers, you might be better off asking the man at the bar.