[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.]
[He nods, because he understands the feeling ... though maybe for less altruistic reasons. Regardless, he leans in to brush a kiss to her forehead, before taking them back to bed for some much needed rest.]
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everyonelives2025-07-26 07:05 pm
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.
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[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.
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Maybe we should loop in Elena. She's the one who's been spending the most time with him.
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( 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.
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[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.
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( Unless she's there next to him when he does, or in his vicinity. She'll be kept in the loop. )
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[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.
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( But, she's this old now, and she's yet to have many days that haven't ended like that. )
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