everyonelives | the ground could open, he could still say please

To put her into the Gauntlet, yes. She's an heir so they can't start the game until she's been informed, officially.

[But it worries him that Sierra knows Danny is alive. That she won't find some way to use it to leverage the situation in her favor. But this isn't the point, none of this is the point.]

But again. One problem at a time. What we need to know - and not right now, you should think about it - is what you want. Because if you are going to take your place as the leader of the Knightsbridge coven, you have one solstice to do it. But it will put a bigger target on your back and it will make your life a lot harder. You can let this go, fade into the background, and just keep living the life you're living, that's fine. But it'll make it a lot harder to get that birthright back if you change your mind.

["And what if I take it now, it'll save you?"

David shakes his head.]

Don't make it about me. I don't care if you save me or not. I just want you to make sure you know what your options are.

[He then steps back, and looks to Bonnie.]

I'm going to go get a coffee. Let me know when you're ready to go.

( Bonnie nods and asks Isaac to give them a minute. Taking a seat next to him, she is ready to listen, to answer any question he asks, or to counsel him. )

I know this is a lot.

Everything in the last six months has been a lot.

[It's hard to believe that it's only been six months since his parents died. It hasn't even been a year, and he's already needing to consider if he's ready to step in for a witch war or let it go forever. He had hoped he would have more time.]

What do you think I should do?

[He's not asking because he wants her to tell him what to do. He's asking because she's been through these kind of decisions before. Maybe she can frame it for him in a way that makes the choice easier.]

( Danny is right, it has been rough. Bonnie felt pain like Danny's when she was younger, for weeks on end in different ways, losing her family members and her ex boyfriend, dying - and that's still not everything she experienced. )

I think that you will never be ready to make this decision. There will never be a perfect time. I think you know what you want to do and I think you know what you can handle. He's not wrong, it will change your life. You will be carrying your coven's power source - you will make yourself a target. But, you will also have the power to defend yourself, to cloak yourself - you can live your life. But, it won't be like this - and you will have to think about what is best for your coven, what that looks like and where you go from here.

( Bonnie won't counsel him in only one direction, she has been on either side. )

I've made the wrong choice before. I've taken power the wrong way. I abused my power and pissed off my entire lineage. I stood back and lied about something I said I did because of my own prejudices. But I wouldn't take any of it back, we wouldn't be here. What are you scared of, Danny?

[He's scared of dying. He's scared of fucking up, and not living up to his father's example. Not being the leader that his people need. He's scared of this war and what it means for things moving forward.]

The last Gauntlet was the Spanish Inquisition. The Salem Witch trials. So many people died. And from what David said, this is going to happen whether I take the power or not. So what if I take it and then I get killed, and it doesn't matter?

( She takes his hand. )

It does matter. It always matters. And if you think I would stand by and let you be killed? Hunted? You're going to have a target on your back - this will speed up how fast it's raised but it won't change what's still true. You are not helpless and you will be powerful, Danny. But, I will be right here, no matter what you decide.

[He nods, drumming his fingers against the bench as he tries to come up with an answer that he doesn't have. Not yet. But it's not just him it's impacting.]

Solstice is in two weeks. Can you just ... give me a week to think about it? I have to talk to some people.

[Lizzie being the big one but also maybe Eliza and some friends from back home.]

Take the time you need. I know it's a big choice, I know it screws everything else up and I wish I could tell you that the gods don't laugh when we plan because they do. But, then we change our plan. And we go from there. So, here is where we go from there. Okay?

( Leaning in, she gives him a big hug. )

Isaac and I are staying with the Winchesters in Kansas. Do you want me to stay in New York?

[He shakes his head.]

Nah, you don't have to.

[Not because he wants to be alone necessarily, but more:]

Apparently, Lizzie's roommate's dad is married to Hope's aunt. Also, her mother is a demon hunter and she brought an armory to school, so worst comes to worst, I have options.

[But hopefully the worst won't happen.]

That's quite the coincidence. You trust her?

( It's Bonnie Bennett. Her suspicion runs deep. )

Alice?

[Danny nods. That his intuition is worth anything, he did give a Colony heir his full name, but as much as he knows about Alice, he thinks she's well-meaning and nice enough.]

Yeah, she's cool. She and Lizzie get on well, and she seems pretty sincere.

Okay. Keep that arsenal close. Her mother's a demon hunter? Like Sam and Dean?

( College is something else again. Is everyone in Mystic Falls' orbit doomed to have crazy college experiences? )

Uh, no.

[A beat.]

Well, not not like them? Given the fact that they tend to attract apocalypses like they're end of the world magnets, but her mom is the Earp Heir.

You too? What is there a book written on them?

( Actually, Bonnie, a series. )

I don't know what an Earp heir is but I guess heir is the word of the day. Okay. Think it over. We have your back. Whatever you decide, if it's yes, then you won't be alone. We'll do it right and we'll do it quietly. If it's no, then you do not, I mean it Danny, blame yourself. You didn't create the Gauntlet.

No, I didn't. But my coven did, or at least is partially responsible. And if I'm going to become their leader that means I have to take responsibility for that.

[Not that the Colony didn't earn their exile, but he knows that the druids don't always make the right call. After all, his father felt that he could ignore Monroe's people until they went away, and that clearly didn't work.]

I'll let you know what I decide.

I'll be there when you do.

( After their serious conversation, Bonnie rejoins Isaac and lets Danny go back to whatever he was doing on break. She waits with Isaac outside of the coffee shop David went into. )

I don't know what he's going to do.

[Danny waits until Bonnie is out of earshot before pulling out his phone. From the look at the time, he knows he's going to have to go back to work, but at least he can make plans for when he gets out, and sends a quick text to his girlfriend:]

Can I come over after work?

As long as you promise not to completely distract me with your charming Britishness. Apparently in college they assign reading your first week.

Oh, maybe you could read out loud to me.

Actually, I kind of need to talk to you about something.

[But she doesn't need him as a distraction, so he backs off.]

But if you're busy tonight we can talk later.

I'm only as busy as I decide and I decided for the both of us. I'll get my reading done before. But, next chapter you're all mine.

Like tonight.

I'll order in Chinese around eight? We can sit in the common room and make everyone jealous of our happiness.

( How many people come to school already in a relationship? )

Sounds perfect. See you then.

[And he will head back to work, doing his best not to think about the giant decision that was dropped on him until then. But around 8 pm, he arrives at her dorm and texts up that he's arrived and she should come let him.]

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