everyonelives | sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood

[By the time Stefan arrives in witch town, he's already been brought up to speed. He knows about Spike, he knows how decimated the coven is, and he knows that Bonnie's okay. No offense to Spike, but the last one is his biggest priority, but that's mostly because it's Bonnie.

She's important.

He texts her and Mia when his train gets in, Mia to inform her of his trajectory, and Bonnie to say that he's coming. When he arrives, it doesn't take long to find her, given how much damage has been done. He reaches Eliza's front door, before reaching up and knocking, on the door, then stepping back so he's not infringing on her doorstep.

He doesn't intend to force Eliza's hand in terms of an invitation, but he does want to see that Bonnie is okay.]

( Bonnie's up again, having rested for a far too little amount of time but somehow also enough. Danny's still out, or just laying in the devastation of the turn his life has taken. With Eliza preparing something in the kitchen, Bonnie answers the door. She's the nearest and she had a feeling. )

Stefan.

( Excuse her while she throws her arms around him. )

[He returns the hug in kind, the big, warm, steady hugs that Stefan is especially good at. Rubbing her back gently, he just stays there for as long as she needs.]

You okay?

Yeah. I'm not the one you should be worried about. ( She steps back. ) Not that you know the Brightons, but. It's just Danny, now.

[Stefan nods, because poor kid.]

You do know that just because someone else has it worse doesn't mean you're not allowed to feel it, right?

[He knows she does, but it feels like a good time to remind her.]

I do, and I have been feeling it. But, for his sake, I'm not going to feel all of it until he has time to. I've grieved before, Stefan.

( Too many times and one time for herself. )

I know.

[He was there for most of it, after all. He rubs her arms gently as he nods.]

Just make sure you give yourself that time.

I promise. How is everything? With slaying? I was with Faith, but we split up.

( This is awkward right? How do you ask a witch you barely know to invite your vampire friend in? )

[Stefan won't ask her to. They're good chatting here.]

Things are good. And Faith's on my list to track down next. I know how to find her. I just wanted to make sure you were okay first.

( If he stays long enough, he'll meet Isaac and reunite with Elijah. But, since he hasn't asked, she does move to close the front door lightly before taking a seat on the stoop. )

I have a feeling you knew how I was and that's why you tracked me down first. How did you - Caroline.

Caroline and also this place isn't too far from the Brightons. I asked around.

[People are very friendly when you give them reason to be. He moves to sit next to her, staring out at the street.]

We also got reports from Faith and Mia that things got pretty bad. I wanted to see you with my own two eyes.

( Damon should take notes. )

I'm in one piece, Stefan. I promise. Light rug burn along my arms. ( She does hold them out. ) A hunter with grappling... something. To keep me from casting. It didn't hold long.

Good.

[Stefan nods as he looks around, because he knows that other witches had it a lot worse.]

Have you decided what you and Danny are going to do?

Danny's not safe here. He's vulnerable and suddenly the most powerful person, not just kid, in his coven. We'll need to find somewhere else.

( She hasn't thought that far. )

Well, if you want to come to Scotland, we have the room.

[He's offering on behalf of Buffy, but he doesn't think Buffy would disagree with him.]

Our doors are open any time.

You know, his magic, it's built into Celtic magic. That could actually be really good for him. You're sure? You have a castle full of slayers.

( It really could be good, though. Why she didn't think of that right away. )

I'm sure.

[Because it's Bonnie, and he would never turn her away.]

We may have a castle full of Slayers, but we also have a full coven of witches. There's enough room for both.

I'll have to talk to Danny, but something tells me he's not going to be saying no to anything.

( Anything new. )

Let me know. I have to go check on Faith, but I'll be in town for at least the day.

[Maybe longer, if he's needed. But mostly he's just here to check on his people.]

If you wait two, we can go back with you. The most he wants to do, that he'll need to do is say goodbye.

( It's better to have her, a vampire, and maybe two slayers accompanying them as they travel. But, all she can do is ask. )

I can do that. I'll grab a hotel room.

[He'll give them all the time they need.]

Any other players in town I should be aware of?

I'm glad you asked.

( Always so thorough. )

Elijah is coming here at some point. He and Bela Talbot ( she doesn't actually know if Stefan's heard of her ) are in town. We needed a way to cover everything up, a massacre of this size would get national attention for the wrong reasons.

Good plan. I'll text him, see if he wants some help with the load.

[It certainly can't hurt to have another vamp compelling their cover story.]

I didn't know you two were so close. You have Klaus Mikaelson on speed dial, don't you?

( A joke! )

[Stefan raises an eyebrow with a smirk.]

Sometimes it helps to have an Original vampire on speed dial.

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