everyonelives | there's something due any day

Sam's talking him down?

And Elena says he doesn't even like planes.

You really did a number on them.

( And next to Bela, Elijah looks up from his book.

"What is it?" )

[She glances over with a small smile.]

Nothing. Just my poor choices coming home to roost for once.

[She takes a deep breath.]

When you sell your soul at fourteen, you find yourself making very desperate choices. But in my opinion they gave as good as they got.

I don't know how far your opinion goes, but, trust me, Elena will talk Dean down. And, Sam knows your our link to the coven outside of the coven. But, if, if he goes Terminator on you SOMEHOW, I will give you the head start.

( Elijah closes the book curiously, leaning forward in his chair. )

Well, we've all been there. Is this a loose end?

I appreciate that, Bonnie. Thank you. I'll see you in Prague.

[She takes a breath, before turning to face him with a small smile.]

Not one that needs tying up. Just one I hoped I could avoid until he shuffled off this mortal coil. I'm trying to decide if it's worth getting ahead of.

See you in Prague.

( "And on the scale from one to his head needs to come off? Are we erring on the side of caution or retribution?" )

Caution, definitely. In fact, if anyone's in need of retribution, it would be them.

[She tips her head to the side as she leans back in her seat.]

Our deals were coming due at the same time. I made it out the other side and he didn't. And we weren't particularly friendly towards each other before that.

We?

( He knows you, Bela. But, he is also on your side. Team Bela. )

Dean Winchester.

[She takes a deep breath.]

Also occasionally his brother, Sam.

So, both.

( Both Winchesters. )

We're still going to Prague?

We are still going to Prague. I have plans to meet Bonnie Bennett there, and Dean doesn't like to fly. I don't think he's angry enough with me to white knuckle it across the pond.

[And Bonnie promised he was being talked down.]

Bonnie also said she would give me a heads up if that changed.

Do you need me to liaison with Sam? Get a feel for what you could be walking into. It doesn't sound like these brothers will go away quietly.

( Sam sounds like the brother with the level head. )

[She shakes her head, before offering him a small smile.]

I appreciate the offer, but I should handle this myself. Honestly, I'm of half a mind to contact Dean now and get this over with.

[The sooner they can get the initial confrontation out of the way, the better.]

I'd trust your half of mind more than most whole. But, that is me.

( He's up then, pressing a kiss to her forehead before heading off to shower for the day. )

[She smiles as he goes, letting herself sit in silence for the moment. After some idle tapping against her smartphone screen, she pulls it closer and scrolls through until she finds the number for Dean Winchester. She's not sure if it will still reach him, but they tend to hold on to their old numbers, just in case.

She lets the thought linger for a few moments, before deciding ripping the band-aid off is the only approach she has. She hits send, and places the phone to her ear.]

( Dean doesn't feel a buzzing because his 20(whatever) phone does not have Bela's number, nor does she have his. But, the phone pouch in his bag goes off, the phone vibrating against other phones. He pulls away from Elena and looks over to the light of the screen behind the fabric of his bag. )

One of our old lines.

( Don't judge that they carry a million with them sometimes. He disentangles himself from Elena and unzips the side pouch, bringing it to his ear. )

Yeah?

[It's been a long time, but she knows his voice well enough to know that she at least has the right number. Big deep breath and:]

Hello, Dean.

( Dean can't hide that his blood has run cold, can't feign a sliver of PTSD crawling up his spine from everything Bela Talbot put him and his brother through. But, he is older, wiser, and not alone. He just looks at Elena, points to that phone and mouths 'Bela,' and also, 'Get Sam over here,' before bringing the old flip phone down and scrolling down to Speaker. )

What do you want, Bela?

[Elena does as requested, reaching for her phone to text Sam the news.

Bela on the other hand, has not missed those lovely greetings one bit, but she manages to keep the glib response to herself as she settles back in her seat.]

I heard through the grapevine that certain beans had been spilled, I thought perhaps it would be better to get out in front of things, rather than leaving them to languish.

[Another pause as she takes a breath.]

It's been a long time.

( Speaking of spilled beans. Bonnie must have. But, it's not Dean's place take that personally. Even though, he now does. That's not Elena's fault.

Not long enough. It will never be long enough. Even though it meant she'd been dead. Meeting in Hell wouldn't be long enough. )

What vampire did you pay off? Or, did you beg and plead, and then after they turned you, did you turn around and off them? Who'd you screw over for your new lease on death.

No one.

[The vampire blood had been earned, and no one had been harmed in the making of vampire Bela ... aside from a few humans when she was learning the edges of her control. Still, as much as it is the truth, she doubts that he will believe her.]

The blood was given freely and my sire is very much still living.

Were you torn apart first, or did the promise of becoming a vampire fend off the Hellhounds?

( He's still bitter about that part. )

[She grits her teeth.]

It was my last resort.

[But no, he doesn't get to know the details of her death. Those are for her to have nightmares over and this wasn't about groveling for his forgiveness. She's not the one who made the deal. She wasn't the one who damned him. He did that on his own.

She was just the one willing to do whatever it took to survive, and Dean had certain principles he wasn't willing to sacrifice.]

Wasn't it all. The foot, the Colt.

( Did she call to make sure he hadn't hopped a plane. )

Is this getting in front of things?

It's seeing where we stand at least. Good to know things haven't changed in thirteen years.

[Not that she's been counting.]

That superiority complex of yours still hasn't lost it's charm.

[Yep, sorry, she did not call him to be berated.]

You think I've gotten wiser in my old age or more bitter. Pick a lane.

( Also, he's - not old, even though he said it and he exchanges looks with Elena as he tries not to audibly sigh. )

You've been around, you know the lengths that Sam and me have gone through to save each other, to save our own. I know you went to the same for you. But, doing that screwed us over. A lot.

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