the ground could open, he could still say please

[slavophile]

Comments

[braveandstupid]

Oh, yes! Did I forget to tell you? They hooked up at graduation.

[She's very happy for her friend, and it's nice to see Caroline happy after so long.]

[barely]

About time.

( He gets small pleasures hearing about the town of Mystic Falls. It's nicer sometimes to talk about the squishy emotions over squishy dead bodies, of which there hadn't been any -- until the hunters made their move. )

Can I ask which friend you're in Kansas with?

[braveandstupid]

[There's a brief pause for an awkward face that Jeremy can't see as she decides how to answer that question.]

Do you remember the Winchesters?

[barely]

Not personally. ( (5) Having been younger than Elena at the time, he was busier being obsessed with Vicki Donovan and then sneaking around with her by the time they had to split. ) Vaguely, if you're talking about the hunters with their reputation in almost ending the world. ( (7) ) Hunters also exaggerate.

[braveandstupid]

[She makes a face because yeah that might not all be a lie but Jeremy doesn't have to know that yet.]

Well, they had a kid at school so they came to graduation and Dean and I ... hit it off.

[Which is a polite way of putting that she and Dean are dating - you know your sister, Jeremy, she doesn't do anything half way.]

[barely]

So, we're taking out grandma's nice china, then.

( But, good for her. He's not judging. Elena tends to just go whole hog. Matt, Stefan, that Liam guy. Damon. They never mention Damon. )

[braveandstupid]

[She rolls her eyes.]

We're not quite that far into things.

[But Elena does fall hard and fast. Dean is new to this though, so she's trying not to spook him.]

We're still in the seeing where it goes phase.

[Though she did just meet his mom.]

[barely]

Hey, I'm all for that phase. That's all I did until I met Dawn.

( But, then he met Dawn. He never had a great romantic record what with blowing it with Bonnie twice. (Blowing it being cheating and then she yaknow "died" and was sent to the 1994 prison world. )

I'm pulling into arrivals. Does Ric need to know anything?

[braveandstupid]

Not that I know right now, but Caroline just got here and I think Bonnie got dropped off to meet a witch friend so if I hear anything new, I'll text you.

[She leans away, straining to hear what's happening in the other room.]

But it seems like something witchy may be afoot.

[barely]

So, no.

( Not until they have to. )

Stay safe, Elena.

( He expects the text. But, for now he signs off and dials Jo's number to find them by the right door number. )

[saveslives]

[She pulls out her phone and smiles when she sees Jeremy's name on the caller ID.]

Hey, Jer. We're on our way out to Arrivals.

[barely]

Just pulling in. Let me know what number you see when you're out.

( He hit the traffic light, so he has time to not have to drive past them and go around again. )

[saveslives]

Looks like ... five.

[She emerges through the door, assuming her husband is not far behind her, and looks up to confirm.]

Yep, five! We're out on the curb, so you should see us.

[barely]

( They're on the run, he's staying close.

For a spot check, he got a (9), so he sees them, but only after he passes them, and reflexively, he almost hits someone to his right as he tries to pull in front (7), but they miss (5). Jeremy is left in the dust by an angry horn but he's only one tower over as he shifts into park and steps out of the car.

He opens the trunk for Jo and Ric. )

I don't get it, drivers are usually much more chill in Portland.

( It's called poor driving, Jer. And you call yourself a hunter. )

[saveslives]

I'm sure they are.

[She smirks, before sliding her bags inside and then climbing into the back seat.]

You look good. Seems like the northwest is working out for you.

[barely]

( Look, he has his blindspots. Always have. This time, they're less metaphorical. Alaric climbs into the front seat as Jeremy climbs back into the driver seat. )

Everybody in?

( "Try not to kill us on the way out," Alaric dryly says, eyeing the other drivers.

Jeremy ignores him, turning his blinker on. )

Thanks, Jo. There's something different in the air, here.

( He left everything tragic back in Mystic Falls. The bad memories, everyone dying, Anna, Vicki, Jenna, Elena once -- It was all too much. Save for his sabbatical at the school and helping out Landon and Raf, he hardly ever goes back.

"You look good, Jeremy." Alaric relents, glancing back at Jo. See? It's fine. )

Yeah? You too, Ric. Rocking the no-shave look. I like it.

( "I didn't exactly bring my shaving kit," he says. )

What all did you guys get out with?

( Is there a restocking in order? )

[saveslives]

Mostly the basics. I barely got out of the hospital in one piece.

[Though it's a good thing she did, given all that rests on her shoulders.]

Have you heard from your sister? Last I heard she was on the road with Katherine.

[barely]

She's safe.

( He's not about to spill his sister's secrets everywhere, especially with Alaric looming. He'd probably tell Jo. (He probably will.) )

She's with Bonnie and they're with friends. Sounds like we'll need to make a supply run.

( Clothes, Jeremy. They need clothes. They... need everything. )

[saveslives]

A supply run would be great, if we can.

[Just enough so that they're not washing their clothes every day.]

So I take it they all made it to the Winchesters then. Good. I think Bonnie was with Ryan, Caroline and Isaac so I figured they would watch her back.

[barely]

You know about the Winchesters?

( The door's been opened, now. He wasn't going to spill Elena's personal life all over the backseat, but Jo brought it up. Jo knows. If Jo knows...

"What do you know about the Winchesters?," Alaric asks. )

Enough. They're like hunter royalty. Infamous. Is everything true about them?

( Because Elena is all tangled up. )

[saveslives]

[She shrugs.]

I'd assume that every gossip tree has a shred of truth in it but made to be larger than life. They seem like nice boys. They raised a nice kid. So I'm sure they can't be all bad.

[barely]

Yeah, they're real nice boys.

( Not at all what he's heard. He's heard while one is practical, the other is hardened, angry and doesn't play well with others. He tries not to dwell on it, because he would then be worrying about his sister and she's a grown woman. He's questioned her relationship decisions -- most of the time -- but usually kept it to himself.

Meanwhile, Buffy's arm is tiring from her Facetime with Dawn, but she places her phone on the nightstand by her while she applies her lipstick.

"I don't take it for granted that my boyfriend patrols with me," she says, leaning out of the frame. )

[ooglyboogleys]

Of course you shouldn't. Because Stefan has never been anything but a nice boy who is totally into you because you're awesome. He only cares about your lipstick.

[She's teasing, clearly.]

How are things in Scotland anyway? I heard that his brother is visiting?

[attainathons]

And the height of my heels. He'd old fashioned that way.

( She blots and sits back. She's about to ask what Dawn thinks, but she mentions Damon, which, if she thinks about it hasn't been the hindrance she thought he might be. )

Honestly? If he's not cavorting with Scarlett O'Hara, he's the invisible vampire. He has a bedroom and castle access, but other than finding him in one of the control towers, he keeps to himself. He coaxes Stefan to go wherever to do whatever but I'd rather he ever with Damon than let Damon ever by himself.

( She trusts Stefan, not Damon. )

[ooglyboogleys]

Is that a good or bad thing, that he's making himself scarce?

[Codependent siblings are always messy, but she knows that Buffy would want Stefan's brother to feel welcome for Stefan's sake if nothing else.]