everyonelives | as we pass through arrangements of shadows

See you in the morning.

( It's cute, it's old fashioned. And as crazy as this day has become, she is keeping him grounded. )

[And with that she drifts off and actually manages to get some sleep. It's only a couple hours but it's enough to fade the adrenaline out of her system and have her adjust a bit.

She's still not sure she's solid on all of it, but she doesn't think that talking to the first vampires will get her the kind of clarity she needs. So she goes and seeks out Doc, and hopes that maybe he'll provide more perspective.]

Good morning.

( Neal, too, although he's sluggish and fighting through the beginnings of a hangover. Only Sara really ever sees him, hair disheveled, t-shirt... morning-Neal.

He kisses her good morning and then buries himself under a pillow for another hour.

Doc has gotten up early, let Rebekah and her brother take Henry for a morning stroll to the local patisserie, leaving him to use what's in the cupboard to make Neal and Sara something hearty. He had not gone through as much wine and the adrenaline had pushed any of it out of his system.

"Good morning," Doc greets, waving a spatula. )

Smells delicious.

[And she is hungry for breakfast.]

Are the Mikaelsons around?

Rebekah and her brother have taken Henry to get breakfast. I have not seen Klaus or his paramour.

( Or... Bela. Maybe she met them down there. )

It's just you, me, and -- is Neal still sleeping?

He is. I think he wanted to try and get another hour.

[But she is awake and her brain is already turning in circles.]

Do you think we could talk?

A past time I too have enjoyed.

( When he's had the luxury. With a child and before that living in Purgatory didn't afford him one. )

Sit.

[She does, resting her chin in her hand as she thinks of how to phrase the question:]

When did you find out that all of this was real?

It came in stages. For a long time, I believed in one form of the supernatural. Demons called revenants, cursed to be reborn and killed by the Earp heir every generation. I was Wyatt Earp's right hand. ( He considers how to phrase the rest, going into his story. ) Wyatt killed the demonic sons of the sheriff and his wife Constance. The Clootie's. Who then cursed him. In order to escape death by tuberculosis, Constance cast an immortality spell. But, she wanted something from me, a ring I refused to give up, and she trapped me for over a hundred years in a well.

[She has so many questions, but they all grind to a halt at the last sentence.]

That sounds ... awful.

I kept hold of what sanity I could. Every generation, a revenant named Bobo Del Rey would attempt to talk me out of my ring. He did not in fact succeed.

( And well. )

One day, someone left a rope dangling and the rest is, as they say, very complicated history. The magic and supernatural I was familiar with was just one branch. There are many with different origins and species. I count three different types of vampires and that is not counting anything man-made.

( She gets a pancake, two strips of bacon and some eggs for her listening effort. )

[This is a very delicious reward, thank you Doc.

She quietly chews on the food as she processes this, taking in all the details.]

But the ring didn't make you a vampire, right?

No, a vampire made me a vampire.

( Just how honest does he want to get. There is no reason to bring Kate into this. )

I was not in a good place, feeling like I could not defend my family, and so I asked to be turned. Another curse later and a very dear friend cured me. After that, I was human again, without the tuberculosis.

I'm willing to bet that not a lot of vampires get that opportunity.

[Maybe some don't want it either, but she's definitely getting the impression that Doc was very, very lucky to be able to have the chance to make up for that mistake.]

The curse was the very opposite and it kept me at arms' length for several years. I never thought a cure to either was possible.

( And yet, his mind was expanded. You see, Sara? )

[She does see. Or, at least, she's trying to.]

I'm not saying that I'm going to get my head around this overnight. I ... I'm gonna need time, obviously. But I'm willing to try.

[A pause.]

Is there anything I should know? To help keep myself safe?

Rebekah can provide you with a tea you and Neal should drink daily, unless you two have an affinity for jewelry. An herb by the name of vervain will keep you from being compelled by a vampire. Any vampire, including Rebekah's siblings.

( It's really just step 1 of 50, but he's going to take this slow. )

[She pulls out her phone to make a note, but since it's something food related:]

How does it taste?

[She will do what it takes, but she wants to know if Neal will be a baby in advance.]

( Not great, but he hedges. )

It is an acquired taste, but it is worth it in the end. We put ours in coffee. But, you can also put it into tea. A stronger beverage usually masks its' strength. I could also make you or Neal a bracelet or a necklace.

Edited 2022-03-15 03:44 (UTC)

[She wrinkles her nose, at the mention of it being an "acquired taste" but they'll figure it out.]

It'd still be good to have coffee or tea as a backup. Just in case the clasp breaks or something.

[A beat.]

How long does it last if you imbibe it?

24 hours. It is an ongoing endeavor.

( A 'for the rest of your life because this is your life' endeavor. )

There are also spells. Rebekah's mother was one of the more powerful witches in history and she has access to her mother's grimoire. If it came to it, she could mask your location from any other prying eyes.

If we find it, we should buy in bulk then.

[She makes a note.]

I'm going to assume that garlic is also not a deterrent?

[That's only halfway a joke.]

Only to getting intimate, should you not like the smell of garlic. And some vampires, especially in Rebekah's circle have daylight jewelry, set in with a lapis lazuli making them able to walk in the daylight. But, they do require an invitation when a living person's name is on the lease. Vervain can slow them down if they ingest it or if they are injected with it.

( What else... )

[Yep, totally taking notes on all of that and filing it away to share with Neal later.]

And that's only on the vampire side of things.

[Sigh.]

I'm going to have to do a lot of homework, aren't I?

Rebekah and I will help, and she may have resources at your disposal. Homework is not everything. It is nearly nothing when you are in the thick of it.

( Which, he can't decide if she is or isn't. She is in the middle right now, but is she on the hunter's radar? She doesn't know. )

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