why is it you always get to sit in the shade

[blackstarred]

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[regentem]

Good. Hopefully we'll have some good news for when she wakes up.

[She takes another long sip of her coffee, before she speaks again.]

It seems like she's been really good for you, though. It's good to see you happy.

[tearhiseyesout]

He still is. He nearly flipped our car as we were driving him here.

Emphasis on "nearly." I'm fine.

[She doesn't think Sierra really cares about David or Ezra.]

[razes]

I can't take the credit. I married into it.

[She's done some interior design, but it's still Oliver's house and she knows how much control he likes to have over his space. Laurel closes the door behind her and leads the way to the dining room.]

But it's been in the family for a while.

[indurare]

[Her hand coming up to brush against his cheek gently. She runs her thumb over his cheekbone, a brief bit of connection and a familiar gesture over their long friendship. It's almost as though to ensure for herself that he's actually there, or that he's in one piece.

Then her face melts into a warm smile.]

Well, I'm glad you're here in one piece. And we should have a drink.

[likeaweapon]

[That is an incredibly amusing picture, and she's glad that her husband and her brothers are bonding.]

Just remember, darling. They don't get drunk as easily as you do. Don't let them take advantage of you.

[cowman]

Then the joke is on them, as they will need to get me home.

But, we both know my tolerance is as prolific as my gunslinging.

[unforgivably]

( It is timeless, and it's like it's the early 1900's all over again, or the bloody 90's (literal, in Damon's case). It takes him to seven parallel instances, and reminds him he used to actually feel something, even if he could never work up his nerve for something deep or meaningful. There were moments. Twinges. Tries. But nothing until Elena. Not after Katherine. )

I have a drink. You need to catch up.

[disputable]

I don't read Architectural Digest, but it's impossible to eye that cover.

( Plus, the casing. )

Am I interrupting?

( She knows full well what she's doing, but being the bull dozer is easier than standing back. It's been months since she's seen her husband and son. It's too easy for her to make this decision. She wasn't always a wrecking ball. Is it okay if she means well? )

[ostensively]

I doubt you'd have mastered incorporeal iMessage. I got the message you're alright.

[witchaffinity]

How I've needed Davina Claire's astute observations.

( Sizing his choices up in their personal divide. Does he miss San Francisco? The life they tried to build together? All the time. But, if he's true to himself, would that have sufficed for as long as Davina wouldn't let him turn her. But, she is not Bella and he is not Edward. )

[jockwitch]

Doors in, I think, if they can't prove you did outside damage.

( And leave it to Lizzie to push past Alice, or brush past anyway, to check out said damage. She turns back and points her thumb behind her. )

Looks like Salvatore School caliber damage. ( Maybe she'll fit in after all. ) You're Alice Earp?

[cholesterol]

( They may have already buddied up, but even he can see his girlfriend's passion sending the distant family members on a side quest. Elena plus Katherine, version: hunter. )

Yeah, we're caught up.

( "I'd hope all your clients paid you well." Allison would assume that if he's hired, he's taken care of. )

[likeaweapon]

I'm sure it is. See you when you get home.

[Her phone pings with the email for the hotel reservation and she turns back to the living room and offers Wynonna a smile.]

I put the reservation under your name. Let me forward it to you.

[indurare]

[She smirks, singling the bartender to get herself a glass of wine.]

Oh, don't you worry. I'll catch up soon enough.

[She eyes the other companions at their table, taking in the details.]

Stefan seems happy.

[Which is a rare occurrence in all the years she's known him.]

[razes]

[Being the bull dozer is why she and Laurel are going to be best friends. It's fine.

She smiles as they reach the dining room door.]

Not at all.

[She pushes it open, and turns that smile on the rest of the room.]

Guess who I found at the door?

[Both Sullivan men promptly choke on their food.]

[tearhiseyesout]

I could be texting you from a hospital room with a broken spine and tubes everywhere. That doesn't necessarily qualify as fine.

[She's kidding. Mostly. But she really is fine.

That's likely how Sierra knows she's fine.]

[regentem]

[She raises an eyebrow at that. It was meant to be a compliment, a show of support, but if that's not what he wants, then she can keep her thoughts to herself.

It's not as though she doesn't still love him, in some way. But who she needed to be was always going to be at odds with who he wanted her to be.

But before she can get any of that out, there's a knock on the door.]

That must be your sister.

[eredite]

That's what it says on my birth certificate.

[A beat.]

Actually, it doesn't, it says Alice Gibson. It's kind of a long story.

[Another beat.]

That's not important. I'm Alice. You must be Lizzie.

[She glances over at Danny.]

Unless you're Lizzie. But that would be weird, having a coed dorm room, so I'm just going to ... shut my mouth now. Hi.

[gambled_ourmistakes]

Most did. Unless they thought they could get away without paying me. Usually by trying to kill me.

[He takes another sip of his beer.]

They didn't make that mistake twice.

[moralitypolice]

( For give her if she anticipates the oncoming jinx. )

You too.

( She knows Isaac, Caroline, and Ryan can all hear each other even at a faint whisper, so she's at least not worried for any kind of friendly interference should they need it.

Bonnie, key in hand follows the number to the door she'll share with Isaac. She gives him an encouraging, 'Well, better get this over with' look before letting them inside their room. )

[widenecked]

( Ryan lets Caroline take the lead after watching Bonnie and Isaac slip around the corner.

As he follows, he listens for anything distinctive going on in the hotel or any passing rooms (14). )

[ostensively]

You could be.

Glad things didn't get hairier. Stay in touch. Stay Gainor close.

( With a slightly fuller stomach and a much more Gainor-approved look, Ezra steps away from the full length mirror ready for the event that awaits them.

"You know, we could skip altogether. Eat at that Fundruckers off the interstate. Say to hell with our diet."

Avoid his husband's family. )

[dollywood]

( It's not. It's fine. Being a former vampire really tanked his tolerance.

Wynonna gets to her feet. )

Use "w-earp@blackbadge," not the crazyboobs one.

[jockwitch]

( It isn't often when Lizzie isn't the longest story in the room. One thing Salvatore School never got, co-ed rooms. Better off, really. Hope and the Hobbit would've been inseparable. When he wasn't missing or dead. Still. Poor Landon?

Eh. )

I'm Lizzie. Saltzman. Not as long a story, my father's last name is Saltzman. That's Danny. Did you change your last name?

( Lizzie remembers going through that phase. She could be Lizzie Laughlin, really ride out the alliteration. Give Josie the space she needed to be her own person. Get away from her father doting on Hope Mikaelson. But, they've all grown out of that. )

[unforgivably]

Might last.

( He feigns interest, burying the happiness he does feel that maybe his brother has finally grasped his own. (With no help from Damon, for the record. But also no interference.) He really should get points. )

He is. He's found it.

( Post Katherine, post Elena, post Valerie. Post. )