everyonelives | as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[Stefan nods.]

I will. You be careful too. There's a lot that can happen between now and you getting on the plane. Never mind what might happen in the air.

Just what I need, Con Air, but with vampires. I'll keep a low profile. Snag some sunglasses, a baseball cap. Blanket for warmth.

( They still give blankets, right? )

[They totally can in AU land.]

Yeah, I'm sure you'll totally blend in.

At least there are like nine people in first class. See you soon, brother.

( And in sunny Scotland, Buffy waits as Stefan hangs up.

"Your brother's coming." )

Yes, he is.

[And as much as he grumbles about Damon, he also knows that this might be good.]

It probably won't be that bad.

Yeah, probably not. You're also allowed to be happy. He is your brother.

( Just in case he wants to... exude more happiness, he can. )

He is. And I love him. It's just ... hard to turn off that sense of impending doom.

[But in theory, the doom has already happened. And Damon has grown and changed as a person. So he's probably overreacting.]

You don't have to talk to me about a sense of sibling doom. Although, I grew out of mine. I'll tell you about Dawn, sometime.

( And how she wasn't always her sister, but now she's the only sister she'd ever ask for. )

I'd love to hear it.

[He drapes an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in closer.]

I'd love to meet her one day too.

You will. Both. Just not before I shower off this patrol. Come on. You can help me choose Damon's bedroom.

( Will she go small and shabby or large and chic? )

Are you sure you want to give me this much power over a guest?

[Because he will troll his brother with small and shabby.]

I'm giving him whatever power you feel comfortable with. You're on home turf.

( So, it's up to him! )

I'll consider my options.

[He turns to lead her towards their own bedroom so she can clean up.]

We can discuss it over dinner?

Yes, please.

( And so she will shower and wash off all the grime from her patrol. Even though she strictly leads them now, dust and dirty seems to just fly up. )

[And Stefan will make her some yummy food, where they'll chat and settle on a medium room for Damon.

And, once Damon's flight comes in, Stefan will be there waiting at the airport, sitting in his car at the arrivals door while keeping an eye on the doors.]

( The medium room suffices!

Damon didn't pack, being on the run, so he comes in his leather jacket, stolen blanket from the plane in hand. He finishes whatever glass of alcohol he has on him and throws the glass into the trash, very whatever about everything, before climbing into - that's not right - he climbs into the left side of the car. )

How long'd it take for you to get used to this?

A while.

[But when you've been driving since cars were invented, you learn to adapt.]

But I've made worse adjustments while driving.

Remember when amnesiac Stefan rolled his car?

( Car memories! That's what they're doing, right? )

How far out's this castle?

[He snorts, because yes, he does remember. Not one of his brightest moments.]

It's a little bit of a drive. But you can enjoy the lovely Scottish countryside.

[Unfortunately it's a bit of a dreary day, so it's not as lovely as it could be.]

Does lovely mean something different in Scotland?

( He thinks about confiding in Stefan, even about making small talk. But, are they those brothers again? Their emotionally charged conversations came from Elena's involvement, or their mother, or one of the many times one or both of them were brought to the edge only to be brought back again.

But life moves on. Caroline isn't his sister-in-law and as such he and her have settled more into a respectful tolerance. Elena, when not exasperated with him, loves him for who he is. Alaric's got his life and still hasn't fully forgiven him for, well, any of it. Bonnie's his closest friend now and she's never in town. Lindsay comes closest, if he's evaluating or saying anything out loud.

He's not. Not that, anyway.

He doesn't like this estrangement, but it's nothing new with Stefan. )

So what do you do at the castle, anyway? Are you on the payroll?

I help train the girls. Help with research. Cook, sometimes.

[Not officially on the payroll because that might make things awkward, given who he is sleeping with, but he pulls his weight.]

I keep busy.

So, you're a kept castle vampire.

( Which sounds both gothic and like a comedy special. He's not really insulting his brother, just evaluating. Making the conversation he can as the dreary countryside rolls by them. )

It's not a bad life.

[He actually quite enjoys it.]

Occasionally I can persuade Buffy to take a vacation and we travel, but that's not really a day to day situation.

Honestly, I'm happy for you. You and me don't really get vacations. Unless you count our road trip with Cade or your time in a safe.

( And he doesn't. )

Buffy's the real deal.

She is. I haven't been this happy in a long time.

[And he's not sure what he's doing, with a vampire Slayer of all people, but she seems to understand him better than others have in the past.]

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