[The river washed off most of the soot and blood and replaced it with mud and silt, so by the time they make it back to the hotel, it's clear that these clothes are not much longer for this world. He showers first, getting rid of their dirty clothes while Buffy cleans up, and by the time he returns, everyone and everything is clean, and they can focus on the more complicated areas of the evening.
He moves to lean in the doorframe of the suite, watching briefly as she brushes out her hair, before speaking.]
( Sometimes, Buffy Summers processes things at a different rate than most people. When her back's against the wall or the stakes are high, everything is set aside, including implications about her future.
That's what she was thinking as she thoroughly conditioned her hair under a steady stream of Mississippi municipal water.
The deeds are done, her girls are avenged. Two dangerous, psychotic witches are off the board and not in danger of hopping bodies - into their descendants - or their own, now charred, ex-bodies. All wins in the Buffy column.
Still. The question.
Buffy looks at her boyfriend, someday fantasy fiancee in the mirror, brush making measured strokes in her hair. )
Were you asking me if I ever thought about being a vampire?
[There's a moment of silence as Stefan processes that question, surprise coloring his features. It is not the question he asked her. But she clearly seems to have it on her mind.
Given who she is, he aways assumed that being a vampire was a non-starter. And he's fine with that. Whatever portion of his extended existence he gets to spend with her is worth it, in whatever form it takes. But if she's thinking about it, then maybe that needs to be a larger conversation.]
I didn't. But do you want to talk about that?
[He's careful to keep his tone neutral, not wanting to scare her off of the topic because he's open to hear what she's thinking.]
( He was asking more than one thing - she just came to the married conclusion the soonest.
A future with Stefan could look like a lot of things. She isn't Elena Gilbert on a waterfall hiking to conclude she doesn't want to be a vampire. Does she want to be a vampire? The simple answer is, of course, no. But, for her, for a long chunk of her life vampires didn't have lives or walk in sunlight. They were violent. They were demons that set up shop inside people's bodies. But, then they were also Harmony. And Angel. And Spike.
And Stefan. And so many other vampires that have challenged her beliefs.
She sets her brush down, turning, hands perching on her chair. )
Shouldn't we? We should have the conversation. If we're talking betrothals, I think we can talk about it. Obviously, I'm not Bella Swan about it all, but - is that something you would want? If it ever came down to it. If it was Stiles or not Stiles. ( She makes a face, metaphors all swirly. Mixing them some more, she gestures. ) Death or... cake. I mean, wouldn't you choose cake?
[Stefan pauses before moving into the room, sitting on the edge of the tub as he tries to put his thoughts into words. There's a knee-jerk reaction that he doesn't want her to be a vampire, because even though he's much better than he used to be, he still has a complicated relationship with his own vampirism. With parts of himself that Buffy hasn't seen yet - parts of him that he hopes she never sees.
But he also recognizes that his vampire baggage can't make everyone's decisions for them.]
You becoming a vampire isn't ever going to be about what I want. Do I want as much time with you as I can possibly get? Absolutely. When I ask you to be with me for the rest of our lives, I mean it. But marrying me is not contingent on you becoming a vampire. I'm not the one who's going to have to live with the blood lust and the enhanced emotions, and everything else that comes with it.
[Buffy is going to have to live with that. So it matters if Buffy wants to.]
It'd be a long conversation. And possibly have another vampire involved.
[Sire bonds are rare, but he still doesn't want to risk it by using his own blood.]
( Buffy's hands come down from the chair, as she shifts her legs around to face him fully. His approach is how she'd expected it to be. Measured, thoughtful and all about what he wants out of this. Being given the choice. Having this conversation. Leaps, buildings, and bounds away from Angel and her mom deciding for her.
Yes, she was young. She'll always love Angel. Profoundly. He was her first. Why it's always vampires with her...
That last part gives her pause. )
Because becoming a vampire is now a menage-a-trois? Pretty sure Stiles only had Caroline's blood in his system, that hunter guy, Damon's -- oh - oh are there, like, side effects? Because it would be yours? If it would be yours?
( This is all starting to sound like that horrible short-lived 90's show Kindred.
[He takes a deep breath, because this is one of the more awkward parts about becoming his kind of vampire.]
Most of the time it is a two person situation. But sometimes - very rarely but sometimes - there's something that happens called a sire bond. Usually when the new vampire has ... incredibly strong feelings about the one who turned them. When Klaus first started turning hybrids, they felt an immense amount of gratitude for essentially having been relieved of the burden of their curse. But in return, they had to follow every order Klaus gave. They couldn't work against him, even if it was to their own benefit. Even if it involved hurting people they otherwise cared about. There's a certain amount of free will that the new vampire has to reclaim for themselves.
For vampires, sometimes if the person that's turning is in love with their sire, a similar bond can form. I do know how to break it, but I don't want to take that risk. Not with you. So if you do decide to turn, we're using someone else's blood, not mine.
( That is not what she expected, and now she realizes -- if it ever came down to it, if there had to be a contingency. He wouldn't be her sire. Which is a weird kind of pit that forms in her stomach. )
I'd rather be Miss Independent, anyway.
( And her own vampire if she were... a vampire. )
I'm not saying that's in the cards. Or, like, I'll register for a sire with the dishes. People register for dishes, right? ( Point being. ) If it came down to it, if it was --- I've lived a good life or I could live a longer one, I don't know. ( She sighs. ) In high school, it was my literal nightmare. But. I don't know. I see you. I see the Butlers. Vamping looks different now. So, it's not a never or a no and definitely not a yes - but - I made history before. ( She shrugs. ) I do know one thing, ( she says, moving to sit next to him on the tub. Back to betrothals, hopefully he'll catch this. ) When you're ready and you ask me -- I'll say yes.
[A small smile starts to cross his face, and he reaches for her hand. Winding his fingers in hers, he brings the back of his hand to her lips.]
And even if you decide not to be a vampire, I'll still be here. Until you're old and gray.
[He'll be her handsome live-in handyman who helps with things around the house, whatever story they want to come up with for why she's living with someone who doesn't age.]
( Slayers have never been as old as she's gotten. She's a first. The first. )
I love you. Thank you for watching my back. And understanding why I had to get on that Riverboat. And helping my sister. And, not being the worst speed date I've ever had.
[More than he's loved anyone in a long time. Part of him wonders if all the epic loves he thought he's had in the past were all just practice runs. Preparing him and getting him to the place where he'd be ready for this.]
And I'll always have your back. Hopefully we'll never have to go on another speed date again.
[Stefan nods, because he knows that's going to be a problem that's going to return. He doesn't know where to go to get more information just yet, but maybe Klaus will have information he can offer.]
Yeah. But that's a problem for another day. In fact, it's probably going to be a problem that carriers over several days, because you can't dismantle something like that overnight.
If you want to stay on this, there's probably some trees we could shake. I want to ask Klaus about the Arbiter Rusty mentioned, too. I have a feeling we might see him again.
I'd ask Faith, but she's like the guy in Memento about it. Claims she doesn't remember saying anything at all. Kind of funny if she hadn't, we wouldn't know who we were dealing with.
( She has to question. )
How far do you think we should take our trust in Rusty?
No. He was organized. Focused. Efficient. There's just something about him, like, what's left after the vengeance. There's one more round of bodies, and of witches and then --
Oh, I'm sure she is. But she might enjoy the distraction.
[And it'll give him an opportunity to take the temperature on how things are going with her parents, if he and Buffy are going to be eventually heading up to Kansas.]
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everyonelives2025-07-26 07:05 pm
stefan & buffy | mississippi
He moves to lean in the doorframe of the suite, watching briefly as she brushes out her hair, before speaking.]
How're you feeling?
no subject
That's what she was thinking as she thoroughly conditioned her hair under a steady stream of Mississippi municipal water.
The deeds are done, her girls are avenged. Two dangerous, psychotic witches are off the board and not in danger of hopping bodies - into their descendants - or their own, now charred, ex-bodies. All wins in the Buffy column.
Still. The question.
Buffy looks at her boyfriend, someday fantasy fiancee in the mirror, brush making measured strokes in her hair. )
Were you asking me if I ever thought about being a vampire?
no subject
Given who she is, he aways assumed that being a vampire was a non-starter. And he's fine with that. Whatever portion of his extended existence he gets to spend with her is worth it, in whatever form it takes. But if she's thinking about it, then maybe that needs to be a larger conversation.]
I didn't. But do you want to talk about that?
[He's careful to keep his tone neutral, not wanting to scare her off of the topic because he's open to hear what she's thinking.]
no subject
A future with Stefan could look like a lot of things. She isn't Elena Gilbert on a waterfall hiking to conclude she doesn't want to be a vampire. Does she want to be a vampire? The simple answer is, of course, no. But, for her, for a long chunk of her life vampires didn't have lives or walk in sunlight. They were violent. They were demons that set up shop inside people's bodies. But, then they were also Harmony. And Angel. And Spike.
And Stefan. And so many other vampires that have challenged her beliefs.
She sets her brush down, turning, hands perching on her chair. )
Shouldn't we? We should have the conversation. If we're talking betrothals, I think we can talk about it. Obviously, I'm not Bella Swan about it all, but - is that something you would want? If it ever came down to it. If it was Stiles or not Stiles. ( She makes a face, metaphors all swirly. Mixing them some more, she gestures. ) Death or... cake. I mean, wouldn't you choose cake?
no subject
But he also recognizes that his vampire baggage can't make everyone's decisions for them.]
You becoming a vampire isn't ever going to be about what I want. Do I want as much time with you as I can possibly get? Absolutely. When I ask you to be with me for the rest of our lives, I mean it. But marrying me is not contingent on you becoming a vampire. I'm not the one who's going to have to live with the blood lust and the enhanced emotions, and everything else that comes with it.
[Buffy is going to have to live with that. So it matters if Buffy wants to.]
It'd be a long conversation. And possibly have another vampire involved.
[Sire bonds are rare, but he still doesn't want to risk it by using his own blood.]
no subject
Yes, she was young. She'll always love Angel. Profoundly. He was her first. Why it's always vampires with her...
That last part gives her pause. )
Because becoming a vampire is now a menage-a-trois? Pretty sure Stiles only had Caroline's blood in his system, that hunter guy, Damon's -- oh - oh are there, like, side effects? Because it would be yours? If it would be yours?
( This is all starting to sound like that horrible short-lived 90's show Kindred.
Also, reminder. This is all what-if territory. )
no subject
Most of the time it is a two person situation. But sometimes - very rarely but sometimes - there's something that happens called a sire bond. Usually when the new vampire has ... incredibly strong feelings about the one who turned them. When Klaus first started turning hybrids, they felt an immense amount of gratitude for essentially having been relieved of the burden of their curse. But in return, they had to follow every order Klaus gave. They couldn't work against him, even if it was to their own benefit. Even if it involved hurting people they otherwise cared about. There's a certain amount of free will that the new vampire has to reclaim for themselves.
For vampires, sometimes if the person that's turning is in love with their sire, a similar bond can form. I do know how to break it, but I don't want to take that risk. Not with you. So if you do decide to turn, we're using someone else's blood, not mine.
no subject
I'd rather be Miss Independent, anyway.
( And her own vampire if she were... a vampire. )
I'm not saying that's in the cards. Or, like, I'll register for a sire with the dishes. People register for dishes, right? ( Point being. ) If it came down to it, if it was --- I've lived a good life or I could live a longer one, I don't know. ( She sighs. ) In high school, it was my literal nightmare. But. I don't know. I see you. I see the Butlers. Vamping looks different now. So, it's not a never or a no and definitely not a yes - but - I made history before. ( She shrugs. ) I do know one thing, ( she says, moving to sit next to him on the tub. Back to betrothals, hopefully he'll catch this. ) When you're ready and you ask me -- I'll say yes.
no subject
And even if you decide not to be a vampire, I'll still be here. Until you're old and gray.
[He'll be her handsome live-in handyman who helps with things around the house, whatever story they want to come up with for why she's living with someone who doesn't age.]
no subject
( Slayers have never been as old as she's gotten. She's a first. The first. )
I love you. Thank you for watching my back. And understanding why I had to get on that Riverboat. And helping my sister. And, not being the worst speed date I've ever had.
no subject
[More than he's loved anyone in a long time. Part of him wonders if all the epic loves he thought he's had in the past were all just practice runs. Preparing him and getting him to the place where he'd be ready for this.]
And I'll always have your back. Hopefully we'll never have to go on another speed date again.
no subject
( She jokes, dropping her gaze with a peaceful, settled sigh. She does shake her head, glancing at the two of them in the mirror. )
The Ivory Tower's still out there. Still -- using innocents.
no subject
Yeah. But that's a problem for another day. In fact, it's probably going to be a problem that carriers over several days, because you can't dismantle something like that overnight.
no subject
( She nods, squeezing his hand. )
That... sounds wrong.
no subject
If you want to stay on this, there's probably some trees we could shake. I want to ask Klaus about the Arbiter Rusty mentioned, too. I have a feeling we might see him again.
no subject
( She has to question. )
How far do you think we should take our trust in Rusty?
no subject
[What will that mean once all the Inner Circle is dead and he doesn't have a direction to point in anymore? Stefan isn't sure.]
Why? Did you see something you didn't like?
no subject
( It's just on the top of her mind right now. )
I don't know. It's just a feeling.
no subject
[Stefan can't blame him for wanting to finally rest.]
I don't think he's intending to implode. But we could always check on him after all is said and done if it would make you feel better.
no subject
( But. )
But, maybe we - keep one eye on him. That Ezra guy? Stay one degree of Kevin Bacon away, but, we can help if we're needed. Or, intercede. If needed.
no subject
Maybe we should loop in Elena. She's the one who's been spending the most time with him.
no subject
( She didn't get the entire story, but understood that there was a betrayal involved. )
We should, if she isn't up to her elbows in family drama.
no subject
[And it'll give him an opportunity to take the temperature on how things are going with her parents, if he and Buffy are going to be eventually heading up to Kansas.]
I'll give her a call tomorrow.
no subject
( Unless she's there next to him when he does, or in his vicinity. She'll be kept in the loop. )
no subject
[He gives her hand a squeeze, before tipping his head towards the bedroom.]
But I think for now, we should try to get some sleep.
(no subject)
(no subject)