[Elena is elbow-deep in ancient family history records that thankfully Ric taught her how to read a long time ago. So far they haven't gotten super far in terms of the so-called Inner Circle, identifying one potential grave site out of the ten that was left for them, but one piece of progress is some progress.
As she's ready to trade very old books with her boyfriend, her phone lights up on the table next to her, flashing Ezra's name. She scoops it up, before offering Dean a smile.]
I'm going to grab us some coffee. Be right back.
[Once she's retreated to the kitchen, she answers, sliding her phone between her shoulder and her ear.]
( The last time they really talked, it felt like he and Elena had come to an understanding. While she hadn't forgiven him for lying to her, and shouldn't have to, she at least understood where he was coming from, and why. She learned a few more real things about him, including what his husband went through and why he is the way he is.
It was supposed to be the first step.
And then someone pulled Monroe's kill switch. It scattered everyone, sent him and his husband back into the belly of the beast and separated he and Elena even further. Physically, and probably emotionally. So much for a slow mending.
With pieces being put into place and the decision not yet reached to throw the Gauntlet, he knows he owes her something. He believes it's never too late to salvage something that someone wants salvaged. And they're going to need allies.
Hearing his old friend's voice brings a smile to his face. Things were simpler than. Dishonest. But simpler. )
What are the odds you think we're going to be fired?
( He knows both he and Elena left the same night. Elena, straight from work. He doesn't know what Elena's said. He waited a little too long to ask for a leave of absence and missed the call probably granting him one. His eyes glaze over every time he attempts to look at his mysticfallsgen.com email. The impending massacre keeps him mentally preoccupied.
He has a purpose to this call. But, he hasn't earned the right to come out right away and ask for the favor. He needs to ease in. )
Well, if the gentle phone call I got from MacMillian is any indication, I need to either resign or be back in Mystic Falls to work a shift in a week or I am definitely getting fired.
[A week is all that remains of her heavily stored vacation time that she was terrible about using. She's sure that HR was relieved at first, but now they're starting to get a bit concerned.]
I haven't decided yet. But it turns out Smith County Memorial is looking for ER doctors so I think I might have options.
( She got a gentle phone call? She was always the well-liked one. Ezra was cocky.
He does a quick Google search on his laptop and remembers his husband met Bonnie in Kansas and dropped Allison Argent and Sam Winchester back in Kansas. )
I know you can take the girl out of the small town...
( But trading one for another? Elena may not know it, but she could do so much, and not because of her blood, but her compassion and her conviction. She continues to saddle herself with men. The Salvatores. A Winchester. He keeps his opinions to himself, though, because it is her life, and in this case, it's truly her life. He's "lost track" of her. And the Colony has focused their efforts on the Gauntlet.
Which comes to why he called. )
So, do you remember the story I told you about David, about how we met?
[But then he turns into talking about his husband, and she let's the subject drop. Especially because she hasn't even broached the subject with Dean yet, and she knows that's going to be a Conversation. So she's grateful for the distance as they focus on what Ezra wants to talk about.]
His parents and the other heir apparent's parents - were monsters of that caliber. As far as I know, his parents are the only ones who had their son possessed, but I came on the scene late up against a wall of distrust and political disappointment.
( Always the smart-aleck, he will get to his point... now. )
I uh - say were because we have it on shaky, but reliable, authority that the Colony parents ... aren't themselves, and haven't been since they ascended into the Inner Circle. Because, ascending involves becoming the Inner Circle. The, several hundred year-old, original flavor, Inner Circle that has been jumping into the next generations' bodies. So, if we're keeping score. David's parents were despicable. He hates them. But, everyone's parents are now worse and also not their parents. Do you follow me?
There is no alternative to doing what you expect we have to do to them. Step 0 was enlisting the Winchester's help - your help - with locating their bodies. We can't have them leaping into their own bodies if - when - the time comes.
[They don't have anything concrete yet, but they're working on it.]
Look, I'm not necessarily fond of the nuclear option, either. But ... sometimes you don't have another choice.
[Elena spent too long trying to protect everyone, and even more people she loved died. Sometimes, the best thing for everyone is to just cut the head off the snake. As much as you may not want to, or worry what it may do to you.]
( Elena Gilbert going for the nuclear option? Or, endorsing it as it were. )
Before this came out, I suggested we cut and run. To get out of the Colony for good. But my solution was final and - not something he'd ever be interested in. But, it was nuclear. If doing this keeps him and you and everyone safe, than we have to.
[She doesn't quite understand what Ezra is referring to, but she hopes that he at least gives David a choice in this nuclear option. That's always the part that Elena valued the most. Having a choice.]
But I'm safe as houses in a bunker that's warded against literally everything. You do not have to worry about me.
Look, I know I lost the right to go overprotective friend on you, but, as warded to high hell as that bunker is, there are reports that it's not as full-proof Fort Knox as it seems.
( Not that anything is. He's heard about the angelic and demonic assaults.
He's not going personally nuclear, he'd lose David forever. He'd never take choice away from him. )
It's very. 9 out of 10, 10 on really good days, just, ( he sighs. ) don't let your guard down.
( You know. Because ... well, you did around him. )
[She did around him because she hasn't had to have her guard up in a while. This scenario is different, and being back in hypervigilant mode is not something she's missed, but it is something she's used to.]
I will be careful. And you be careful too. You're way further into the deep end than I am.
[As complicated as things are, she does hope that he keeps swimming.]
[But with that, she will hang up and head back to the research pile. She starts hitting the books before glancing over to Dean and trying to figure out where to start with the question she needs to ask.]
[But Dean isn't wrong about them being knee deep in this mess.]
Honestly, so do we and I'm not in a rush to go back. What's going on here is more important. But given that we don't know how long this is going to take ...
[Because these are mega witches Ezra and David are looking to take out, and she has medical school loans to pay:]
... There's an opening in the ER at Smith County Memorial.
Elena, I'm not in my twenties. You're with us now. You're with me if you want to be. Sam and Allison. Maybe Caroline, Ryan. Bonnie. You have a place here.
( But, they're not talking about Elena's friends, or their significant others, or laconic werewolves.
I know. But we're in this together, and if we're going to be partners, then I want to make sure that we talk about things like this.
[She's not in her twenties either. But she's also a communicator and she didn't want to just make a decision without making sure that he was okay with it.]
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everyonelives2023-03-16 09:07 pm
no subject
As she's ready to trade very old books with her boyfriend, her phone lights up on the table next to her, flashing Ezra's name. She scoops it up, before offering Dean a smile.]
I'm going to grab us some coffee. Be right back.
[Once she's retreated to the kitchen, she answers, sliding her phone between her shoulder and her ear.]
Hey, Ezra.
no subject
It was supposed to be the first step.
And then someone pulled Monroe's kill switch. It scattered everyone, sent him and his husband back into the belly of the beast and separated he and Elena even further. Physically, and probably emotionally. So much for a slow mending.
With pieces being put into place and the decision not yet reached to throw the Gauntlet, he knows he owes her something. He believes it's never too late to salvage something that someone wants salvaged. And they're going to need allies.
Hearing his old friend's voice brings a smile to his face. Things were simpler than. Dishonest. But simpler. )
What are the odds you think we're going to be fired?
( He knows both he and Elena left the same night. Elena, straight from work. He doesn't know what Elena's said. He waited a little too long to ask for a leave of absence and missed the call probably granting him one. His eyes glaze over every time he attempts to look at his mysticfallsgen.com email. The impending massacre keeps him mentally preoccupied.
He has a purpose to this call. But, he hasn't earned the right to come out right away and ask for the favor. He needs to ease in. )
no subject
[A week is all that remains of her heavily stored vacation time that she was terrible about using. She's sure that HR was relieved at first, but now they're starting to get a bit concerned.]
I haven't decided yet. But it turns out Smith County Memorial is looking for ER doctors so I think I might have options.
no subject
He does a quick Google search on his laptop and remembers his husband met Bonnie in Kansas and dropped Allison Argent and Sam Winchester back in Kansas. )
I know you can take the girl out of the small town...
( But trading one for another? Elena may not know it, but she could do so much, and not because of her blood, but her compassion and her conviction. She continues to saddle herself with men. The Salvatores. A Winchester. He keeps his opinions to himself, though, because it is her life, and in this case, it's truly her life. He's "lost track" of her. And the Colony has focused their efforts on the Gauntlet.
Which comes to why he called. )
So, do you remember the story I told you about David, about how we met?
no subject
[But then he turns into talking about his husband, and she let's the subject drop. Especially because she hasn't even broached the subject with Dean yet, and she knows that's going to be a Conversation. So she's grateful for the distance as they focus on what Ezra wants to talk about.]
Yeah, I remember. Is everything okay?
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( Always the smart-aleck, he will get to his point... now. )
I uh - say were because we have it on shaky, but reliable, authority that the Colony parents ... aren't themselves, and haven't been since they ascended into the Inner Circle. Because, ascending involves becoming the Inner Circle. The, several hundred year-old, original flavor, Inner Circle that has been jumping into the next generations' bodies. So, if we're keeping score. David's parents were despicable. He hates them. But, everyone's parents are now worse and also not their parents. Do you follow me?
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[It sounds like they're very terrible people, and Elena likes even less that they've been keeping an eye on her.]
Are you guys planning to do something about them?
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( He sits back. )
There is no alternative to doing what you expect we have to do to them. Step 0 was enlisting the Winchester's help - your help - with locating their bodies. We can't have them leaping into their own bodies if - when - the time comes.
no subject
[They don't have anything concrete yet, but they're working on it.]
Look, I'm not necessarily fond of the nuclear option, either. But ... sometimes you don't have another choice.
[Elena spent too long trying to protect everyone, and even more people she loved died. Sometimes, the best thing for everyone is to just cut the head off the snake. As much as you may not want to, or worry what it may do to you.]
no subject
( Elena Gilbert going for the nuclear option? Or, endorsing it as it were. )
Before this came out, I suggested we cut and run. To get out of the Colony for good. But my solution was final and - not something he'd ever be interested in. But, it was nuclear. If doing this keeps him and you and everyone safe, than we have to.
( A beat. )
I thought you needed to know.
no subject
[She doesn't quite understand what Ezra is referring to, but she hopes that he at least gives David a choice in this nuclear option. That's always the part that Elena valued the most. Having a choice.]
But I'm safe as houses in a bunker that's warded against literally everything. You do not have to worry about me.
no subject
( Not that anything is. He's heard about the angelic and demonic assaults.
He's not going personally nuclear, he'd lose David forever. He'd never take choice away from him. )
It's very. 9 out of 10, 10 on really good days, just, ( he sighs. ) don't let your guard down.
( You know. Because ... well, you did around him. )
no subject
I will be careful. And you be careful too. You're way further into the deep end than I am.
[As complicated as things are, she does hope that he keeps swimming.]
no subject
( Keeping everyone afloat. )
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[But with that, she will hang up and head back to the research pile. She starts hitting the books before glancing over to Dean and trying to figure out where to start with the question she needs to ask.]
So ... question for you.
[Yes, good Elena. That's totally casual.]
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He pushes the book away from him, grateful for the brief respite. )
Who called?
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[Which is not how she wanted to ask the question but she figures she might give him a little bit of warning as to where this conversation was going.]
And I guess I'm kind of wondering about that too.
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( Is he waiting for Elena to go back, still keeping tabs on her? Isn't he waist deep in the Colony? Aren't they knee deep? )
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[But Dean isn't wrong about them being knee deep in this mess.]
Honestly, so do we and I'm not in a rush to go back. What's going on here is more important. But given that we don't know how long this is going to take ...
[Because these are mega witches Ezra and David are looking to take out, and she has medical school loans to pay:]
... There's an opening in the ER at Smith County Memorial.
no subject
( That's close, that's - a career, that's making a life. )
Are you thinking of taking it?
( He doesn't want her to think it's not her idea, or that he doesn't want her to take it, but it's not his decision. )
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[She's not really sure how to have this conversation.]
But if you think this is too fast, I could just apply for a longer leave and wait it out a little more.
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( But, they're not talking about Elena's friends, or their significant others, or laconic werewolves.
What's to wait out? )
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[She's not in her twenties either. But she's also a communicator and she didn't want to just make a decision without making sure that he was okay with it.]
But okay. I'll send in my resume.
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( Look, he's sentimental until he's not. But, the smile promises Elena that they're on the same page.
He'd probably be the Fitz to Elena's Olivia. Don't ask, Elena. )
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I don't know, I think Caroline and Bonnie might still be working through their B&B trauma. Probably shouldn't inflict Vermont on them just yet.
[She does lean in to kiss him.]
Because you do know that the three of us are kind of a package deal. Pretty much bonded for life.
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