because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

[somanyadjectives]

Comments

[praevaricatio]

I'm being called back. Game over. Rusty's the only one on the outside now.

( Of the witch-heir contingent. )

I might not come back from this.

( And because he's curious and feeling a bit - nosy. )

Is this the bridge?

[braveandstupid]

[She takes a deep breath and looks over the lake before nodding.]

Yep. This is Wickery Bridge.

[The place that started it all.]

I've been thinking a lot about the a friend I lost recently. This is where I last saw him.

[praevaricatio]

I'm sorry. Losing friends is never easy.

( He leans against the railing, then turns to face her. )

I gave Dr. Laughlin the last piece to the curse. To break it. I owed her that much. I owe you more. Someday I might live up to it.

[braveandstupid]

[Elena glances back at him, before nodding.]

Thank you. For holding up your end of the deal.

[She knows it wasn't a real deal - Ezra and David could have pushed their advantage any time. But it's good to know that Jo will finally be able to get some answers for her family.]

That's all I ever asked of you.

[Meaning you don't have to consider anything still owed.]

[praevaricatio]

Got any juicy gossip, so I have something to hold onto in the meantime?

( Something that might keep him sane, human. He doesn't know what's in store for him, or what David's parents even think they know. But, anything could help. And, maybe he just wants something real. Regular. Like friend's gossip. )

Dating Dean Winchester can't be without drama.

[braveandstupid]

[There's a huff of a laugh at that, because boy does she ever but also no. She's not going to give away Ben as a tidbit to keep things interesting for Ezra.]

Damon Salvatore is going to therapy.

[Which she doesn't know if the two of them ever actually met, but Elena definitely complained about him to Ezra on occasion as she was sorting through the initial wake of their breakup.]

I think he might be finally growing up, even if he couldn't do it without one last painful conversation.

[praevaricatio]

Damon. Is - well, now I've heard everything. Now, I really can step back.

( He braces himself against the railing, looking out onto the river below. )

And he made it your problem, I bet.

[braveandstupid]

[Elena takes a deep breath before shaking her head.]

I don't know if he'll ever really get why things changed. Sometimes for Damon it's like ... as long as he holds on to his North Star, everything else will be fine. I just ... couldn't be that person anymore.

[praevaricatio]

Maybe he always did. Deep down. And that's why he never let go. Sounds like this is a healthy step, just wish he didn't bring you back to the forefront.

( And. )

Is this about your friend Matt?

[braveandstupid]

This - yes.

[She gestures to Wickery Bridge and nods.]

The end of me and Damon? No, but he definitely helped tip it over the edge.

[praevaricatio]

Matt's death did?

( Give him a second, because... )

Damon didn't.

[braveandstupid]

He wasn't ... in control. Brainwashed, there was a siren, it was ... very messy.

[But yeah, he did. And she wasn't there to see any of it, so she was mostly contending with the after report.]

I tried to let it go, but ... it was hard.

[praevaricatio]

He killed one of your best friends. Siren or not. As a witch, we apologize for vampire actions. It's written in the code. If we want to coexist. But, it doesn't mean we don't have feelings about them.

( Which sucks. )

Where were you? Those years he was obsessed with you and you said you were finding yourself. And he expected you back. He "waited."

[braveandstupid]

I was asleep. Sleeping Beauty curse. It was supposed to last until Bonnie died, but she found away around it. I was under for about five years though. Just ... me and my thoughts.

[And somewhere in there, Damon killed Matt.]

[praevaricatio]

Your thoughts on everything.

( He can see why so many years away could make a difference in what she wants. )

[braveandstupid]

[She nods, exhaling slowly.]

I didn't want to hurt him. I fully intended to keep my promises. But ... when those promises become untenable, it's usually better to be honest.

[praevaricatio]

No, it's always. Well, a lot makes more sense now. Probably does with my life, too, and my invisible husband I swore I have. ...Things were a lot simpler before. I'm not sorry I met you. But, I am sorry how everything happened.

( The real, umprompted apology. )

[braveandstupid]

[Elena offers him a small smile.]

If I got rid of every friend who came into my life under mysterious circumstances, I wouldn't have very many friends left.

[praevaricatio]

We are. For the record. ( And then, he leans back. ) Oh. How's Irina? Has it been an adjustment?

[braveandstupid]

[She nods.]

So, some things shifted around, and we thought with everything going on she might be safer at the school. It's warded to high heaven and Caroline dressed up the paperwork to tie her to a different old witch family.

[She feels bad telling him this way, but she really does believe that Irina is going to be far safer at the school with other witches like her than hanging out in the bunker.]

Our attention is spread a bit thin right now, given some of the things that happened over Thanksgiving, we thought it was best. Plus she can start making some witch friends her own age.

[praevaricatio]

She should be happy. And safe. So, it sounds like you did the right thing. Thanks. ( He taps the railing with both of his hands. ) Now I'm just delaying the inevitable. ( Turning, he pulls her in for a hug. )

[braveandstupid]

[Elena turns and leans into the hug.]

Good luck, Ezra. Be careful.

[She doesn't know it, but they'll be seeing each other much sooner than they think.]

[praevaricatio]

Watch the road!

( And Elena is pulled out pretty abrubtly as her father veers away from someone in their lane with the honk of his horn. But, he's okay! Everything's okay. Ezra just ... feels what's happening on the other side of the dream he shares. All is well.

Good luck, Elena. )

[braveandstupid]

[Elena jerks awake, blinking at the road and shaking it off. She can't help but feel the unsettling feeling that this is the calm before the storm.]

Are we almost there?

[founderscouncil]

We have another hour. You were out like a light. Thought you'd sleep on the plane.

( Emotionally draining conversations do that. )

Sorry if I woke you. Damn truck swerved into our lane.