there's something due any day

[braveandstupid]

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[enjoythe_ride]

[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.

[cholesterol]

( 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?

[enjoythe_ride]

[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.

[cholesterol]

( 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.

[enjoythe_ride]

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.

[cholesterol]

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

( He's still bitter about that part. )

[enjoythe_ride]

[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.]

[cholesterol]

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?

[enjoythe_ride]

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.]

[cholesterol]

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.

[enjoythe_ride]

I never denied that I did.

[And she never said he couldn't be bitter. But she would have hoped that he would have had better things to worry about.]

But you're alive. Human, even. Does it really still matter what I did way back when?

[cholesterol]

Ancient history is still history. Genocides. Colonialism. Still sucked.

( Elena is probably giving him a look, like you're comparing her to genocides and colonialism? But, he's on a tear. )

Fine, let's focus on now. What are you doing now? Why Bonnie?

[enjoythe_ride]

[Oh yeah. There's that judgy face she mentioned earlier.]

Bonnie sought me out, looking for a cure for the Gemini curse. And then, we agreed to help her werewolf friend should another incident with Monroe's hunters occur in Europe.

[So the answer to why Bonnie is Bonnie.]

[cholesterol]

So, what are you peddling now, like, information? You're the supernatural liaison?

( Sam wouldn't judge him with those judging faces, Elena. He might, but, not... so judgy! )

[enjoythe_ride]

I'm doing what I've always done.

[She's turned the niche market of the supernatural into her business. Don't blame her for innovating where you didn't.]

Providing a service.

[cholesterol]

And that service screws over the unlucky ones.

( Highest bidder and all that? )

[enjoythe_ride]

Everyone's the unlucky one somewhere, Dean.

[Everyone gets screwed somehow.]

And don't act like you don't know that.

[cholesterol]

Are you helping Bonnie, those girls.

( Don't speak platitudes with him, Bela! )

[enjoythe_ride]

That's what I've been hired to do. And oddly enough one of those girls is important to someone close to Elijah, so he has a vested interest in that as well.

[... She doesn't actually know that for sure, but she would assume that Elijah would want to protect Hope's girlfriend.]

[cholesterol]

Not odd, he's - whatever - related, through ( his brother's ) friendship or whatever. So, Bonnie paid you?

( Not his business, and he's spreading it to Elena but it's hard to take her at her word, it just is. )

[enjoythe_ride]

[Elena glances up at that and shrugs because she isn't sure.

Bela fights the urge to roll her eyes, even if he can't see her. Because while no money has exchanged hands, and she and Bonnie never talked price, she doesn't think that Dean will believe it otherwise.

He'll deride her for it, but he won't believe that she's actually capable of altruism.]

Yes. Paid in full. I'm on the case.

[cholesterol]

And what happens when Bonnie's enemy or one of those Proud Hunters cuts a better deal.

( It's valid. With your track record, Bela? Valid. )

[enjoythe_ride]

Do you honestly think they'll want to cut a deal with a vampire?

[She understands it's valid but let's think about that for a second.]

And the only member of the Colony I do consistent business with is David Gainor, who is interested in keeping Bonnie on his side.

[cholesterol]

Yeah, Gayvid. We haven't met.

( Sorry, Elena. )

Look. If Bonnie gets out of this... ( He breaks the phone up to his lips tapping it, exhaling, bringing it back down. ) We're still not square.

[enjoythe_ride]

I doubt we ever will be.

[She doesn't have much hope in Dean's ability to change his opinion.]

I'll settle for you not ruining my wardrobe if we ever see each other again.