( He knows, at least that she left at first. That's being at Peace when you take glimpses back into the life you lived, but he's not about to admit to being that kind of guy. )
You know, I always knew if any of us got out, that maybe we'd be better off. Like that town would swallow us whole.
[She pauses as she tries to figure out how to say it in a way that doesn't sound like she was doing it for a guy, but at the same time ... yeah, kinda.]
I left because I was running for my life, again, but ... the guy I'm seeing lives in Kansas most of the time, and ... I don't know. I decided to stay instead of going back.
( Peace does something else even to the most bitter of them. Matt was already on his way to not hating all vampires for vampire's sake before Damon killed him, and, really, that should have driven that particular nail in the coffin hard. But, you don't resent outcomes at Peace. You go forward.
Not being at Peace, but in this extended hike, isn't helping his thoughts. That they at least get to do it, but he didn't get to. That like his sister and, soon after, his mom, he bit it. He bit it hard, thanks to a vampire Elena's thankfully no longer with.
Still, he lets the silence walk with them for a few minutes, because he doesn't like what he'd say otherwise. They have more important things to worry about. )
[Elena glances back to him, feeling the complications in his silence and frowning. She wasted too much of her life not really listening to Matt when maybe she should have.]
We may not get to talk again. If there's something you want me to tell -
[But before she can finish that statement, she gives a hiss of pain and glances down as one of her arms starts to bleed in the crook of her elbow, red rivulets starting to drop down her hand.]
( Matt wouldn't have said anything, wouldn't have burdened her with unfinished business or a life not lived, not when she gets to.
One hand goes to her side and the other one comes to her arm to brace her against him as pain shoots through her. Her blood seeps under and between his fingers. Letting go, he takes off his button down and wraps it around her arm, pressing. It's not going to do anything. This ... isn't happening to her, here. )
Come on. We have to hurry.
( The woods finally end, maybe because the ritual has been keeping them at bay this entire time, but the manor beckons them beyond, bathed in sinister moonlight. )
( That this fake manor isn't in the middle of a forest thanks to a spell is lost on Matt, but at least they made it this far.
When he was dead, he walked himself to his body. It should be this easy, shouldn't it?
He hobbles the two of them up the front steps, past an unglamoured Impala and another car, but there are no bodies as they haven't entered the spell yet. )
[Her eyes turn to follow the Impala, and there's a small heartbeat of relief. She knew he'd come, truly, but she didn't think he would be there so soon.
But she needs to get back to her body so she doesn't linger, leading the way into the manor and trying to find what she's looking for, but she can't recognize any of it.
Or maybe that's just the blood loss making her a little woozy (1).]
( Matt does he best to try and navigate and search using logic and maybe an otherworldly pull (13). Why wouldn't Elena's body pull her back? And, by proxy, him? )
[Because this spell isn't as simple. It's meant to keep her away, keep her from being a problem for as long as she possibly can. They probably intended for her to exsanguinate while her mind was here, distracted by the things she's lost.
Matt is a wild card, however, and he is able to see through some of the finer mesh in the cage, until Elena starts to blink.]
Wait, I think I recognize this hallway. Maybe we're close.
( She's weakening as she bleeds, but Matt is going to make sure she doesn't just, that she fights back and has everything at her disposal. That she has the fighting chance he never got.
He looks in any door they pass down, not missing a beat. )
[It takes them a moment, but eventually they manage to poke their head in the right door, where they see George Harper leaning over a bowl of what seems to be Elena's blood, while more drains from an IV in her arm.
He frowns, almost as though he doesn't understand what he's seeing, but they can see her body.]
[She's not going to be able to fight until that's resolved, and they're not getting any more of her blood.]
Then grab the scalpel or the IV stand.
[And hopefully buy herself enough time until Dean gets there. She takes a deep breath, before looking at Matt and pulling him into one last hug, because this is probably goodbye for a while.]
( More of Elena's blood brushes against. He doesn't let their hunger linger. She has work to do.
He plants himself on his other side of her, behind George Harper, lowering himself down, bracing himself against the edge. He know he can't do anything but watch, if he still has access to it, after, but he wants to see what happens. She deserves the win. And she's not alone. )
[Elena takes a deep breath, before placing her hand on her own shoulder and her eyes slowly open back in her own body. She still feels a little drugged, but she's with it enough to remember where she is and what she needs to do. She quietly slips her hand out of the cuff, and reaches for the IV in her arm, delicately withdrawing the needle with a wince (10).
George seems oblivious, focusing on the magic problem he's trying to solve (5), and stays focused on the matter at hand. Elena slowly climbs to her feet, before catching sight of something in the corner that she isn't sure should be there.
She tips her head at Matt, careful not to say anything aloud. Maybe it's the spell still lingering? Either way it makes their goodbye seem a little anticlimactic.]
( Matt winces, too, looking away. He watches George's - is he humming? Gross.
But, then he catches sight of her - and him - in the mirror and looks back, equally confused.
He shrugs, like some spirit guide? Would he be in the mirror if he were? He waves an arm, but, they have to be focused and he looks back, then at George.
He holds onto the table to keep crouched, because he suddenly feels a weight in his body he didn't before and points with his chin to the scalpel.
[Right. Priorities. Worry about hallucinating Matt later.
She does look to the scalpel at first, as she takes and wedges a piece of cotton into her elbow to slow the bleeding, but she's also feeling a little woozy, so she goes for the IV stand instead. It has a little more heft and a little more accuracy in her current state. And then, keeping her grip steady, she turns and slams it into the head of the witch bending over his work (14 vs. 7), sending him stumbling to the ground.
Not unconscious, not on the first try, but a pretty solid hit.
George tries to snap himself back into focus, and he does notice Matt crouching there (15). And curious man that he is, he can't help but ask: "Where did you come from?"
Elena doesn't like that question so she tries to hit him again (5 vs. 16). This time he's ready for her though, and ducks before pushing back to his feet.
"Naughty girl, Dr. Gilbert. I thought you had an arrangement."]
Again, I said I'd go quietly. Didn't promise I'd stay quiet.
( Adrenaline takes its' rightful place and overpowers Matt's joints as the first blow hits. He pumps a fist.
"Yeah!" Matt's yell overlaps George's recognition. It all happens at once as Elena attempts another blow and misses.
Matt grabs the scalpel Elena was going to, jumping up. He lands in a defensive stance, scalpel at the ready to stab at him.
"Peace. You?"
Dean's arm comes around George's throat and he holds him there. He's going to say something, his girlfriend is there - but, he can't help but - )
Elena, are you -- Matt?!
( He remembers Matt. He should feel guilty about why he remembers Matt, but he was a teenager and Matt was alive. He remembers scanning obits one day and passing Matt's off to Sam. The work of a vampire. Poor kid. )
[There's a breath of relief when Dean arrives, and then her brow furrows in confusion.]
Wait, you see him too?
[Don't judge her, she's still a little out of it.
Unfortunately, George isn't going to give them much time to recover, because although he may look like a tottering old man, he's still an incredibly powerful witch, so his hand comes forward, looking to slam into Dean's forehead (nat 20 vs. 11), and Dean feels waves of pain roll through him, forcing his muscles to rigidly snap into place. Dean fights back just enough to keep control of his mind and not allow himself to be turned into a puppet but for the moment he can't move.
Elena does catch that something is wrong and she grits her teeth before swinging her IV stand at him again (7 vs. 19), and George ducks away again.
( While George is occupied with Dean, Matt goes for the bowl of Elena's blood, tossing it and its' contents away. The bowl breaks under the weight of his throw and blood splatters along the floor. )
That's for coercing and kidnapping my friend. Why don't you just hold blood drives like everyone else.
( Dean can't move. He has felt this before. But, it's more than a demonic pinning. It's like his limbs aren't his own. And, very quickly, his mind isn't either. (3) to fight back. He goes rigid, the soldier his father wanted him to be, bringing his arm down and letting George go, eyes turning -- cruel. )
[Elena feels the moment the tenor shifts in Dean, when he stops being Dean and turns into the witch's puppet. George straightens, cleaning his glasses briefly before glancing over at her.
"There, that's better. Now, would you please relieve Dr. Gilbert of her weapon and put her back into the restraints please?"]
Dean?
[She's done this song and dance before - trying to appeal to someone who just isn't there, but this isn't like a vampire with their switch flipped. Dean just isn't home.
Elena stumbles backwards bringing up the IV stand between them and trying to keep a tight hold of it (8), but as much as she may have trained and tried to improve her physical prowess, it doesn't come anywhere close to Dean, who's had combat training his whole life.
She grits her teeth, waiting for Dean to charge her before shoving back as hard as she can, looking to pin him back against the wall (nat 20), catching him enough by surprise that she can toss back over her shoulder to Matt.]
( Dean, while combat-trained, isn't home as the narration points out. So, George-in-the-driver's-seat doesn't have what Dean would. He does have the bare strength of a forty-something behind him, but no finesse and no heart that Dean fights with.
So Elena catches him at the right angle with the right amount of force and sending him backwards into one of the lab tables. Beakers go flying and break around him as "Dean," tries to wrestle with the IV hook.
Unfortunately, he gets a nat 20 as well and yanks it out of Elena's hands completely, attempting to land a blow to her jaw with the bottom before tossing it aside.
Matt, at the same time, slides across the table like he hasn't been dead for a decade or more and comes down with a striking stab with the scalpel. He's not going in sweet or or timid or with a swipe. It's a full-blown stab. (13) )
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everyonelives2025-07-26 07:05 pm
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You know, I always knew if any of us got out, that maybe we'd be better off. Like that town would swallow us whole.
( Damon beat the town to it. )
Was it - med school that got you out?
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[She pauses as she tries to figure out how to say it in a way that doesn't sound like she was doing it for a guy, but at the same time ... yeah, kinda.]
I left because I was running for my life, again, but ... the guy I'm seeing lives in Kansas most of the time, and ... I don't know. I decided to stay instead of going back.
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( And there's nothing wrong with that. )
Whatever the reason, Bonnie, Care, you, Ty. There's a whole world out there for you.
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[She's gone more often than she's home, but she's doing important work.]
I feel like all of us are starting to find our place in the world.
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Not being at Peace, but in this extended hike, isn't helping his thoughts. That they at least get to do it, but he didn't get to. That like his sister and, soon after, his mom, he bit it. He bit it hard, thanks to a vampire Elena's thankfully no longer with.
Still, he lets the silence walk with them for a few minutes, because he doesn't like what he'd say otherwise. They have more important things to worry about. )
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We may not get to talk again. If there's something you want me to tell -
[But before she can finish that statement, she gives a hiss of pain and glances down as one of her arms starts to bleed in the crook of her elbow, red rivulets starting to drop down her hand.]
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( Matt wouldn't have said anything, wouldn't have burdened her with unfinished business or a life not lived, not when she gets to.
One hand goes to her side and the other one comes to her arm to brace her against him as pain shoots through her. Her blood seeps under and between his fingers. Letting go, he takes off his button down and wraps it around her arm, pressing. It's not going to do anything. This ... isn't happening to her, here. )
Come on. We have to hurry.
( The woods finally end, maybe because the ritual has been keeping them at bay this entire time, but the manor beckons them beyond, bathed in sinister moonlight. )
Your body has to be in there!
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Would it mirror where I am back in the real world?
[She glances back at him.]
I think they took me upstairs? Maybe the third floor?
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( That this fake manor isn't in the middle of a forest thanks to a spell is lost on Matt, but at least they made it this far.
When he was dead, he walked himself to his body. It should be this easy, shouldn't it?
He hobbles the two of them up the front steps, past an unglamoured Impala and another car, but there are no bodies as they haven't entered the spell yet. )
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But she needs to get back to her body so she doesn't linger, leading the way into the manor and trying to find what she's looking for, but she can't recognize any of it.
Or maybe that's just the blood loss making her a little woozy (1).]
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Matt is a wild card, however, and he is able to see through some of the finer mesh in the cage, until Elena starts to blink.]
Wait, I think I recognize this hallway. Maybe we're close.
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( She's weakening as she bleeds, but Matt is going to make sure she doesn't just, that she fights back and has everything at her disposal. That she has the fighting chance he never got.
He looks in any door they pass down, not missing a beat. )
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He frowns, almost as though he doesn't understand what he's seeing, but they can see her body.]
What do I do, do I just jump back into it?
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Yeah, I had to climb back into my body. Technically. Do you want to make a plan? Quickly? Say you remember this.
( Matt scans the scene. )
I'd go for the scalpel still by your wrist. ( He crouches. ) One of your wrists is loose.
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[She's not going to be able to fight until that's resolved, and they're not getting any more of her blood.]
Then grab the scalpel or the IV stand.
[And hopefully buy herself enough time until Dean gets there. She takes a deep breath, before looking at Matt and pulling him into one last hug, because this is probably goodbye for a while.]
It was really good to see you, Matt.
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( More of Elena's blood brushes against. He doesn't let their hunger linger. She has work to do.
He plants himself on his other side of her, behind George Harper, lowering himself down, bracing himself against the edge. He know he can't do anything but watch, if he still has access to it, after, but he wants to see what happens. She deserves the win. And she's not alone. )
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George seems oblivious, focusing on the magic problem he's trying to solve (5), and stays focused on the matter at hand. Elena slowly climbs to her feet, before catching sight of something in the corner that she isn't sure should be there.
She tips her head at Matt, careful not to say anything aloud. Maybe it's the spell still lingering? Either way it makes their goodbye seem a little anticlimactic.]
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But, then he catches sight of her - and him - in the mirror and looks back, equally confused.
He shrugs, like some spirit guide? Would he be in the mirror if he were? He waves an arm, but, they have to be focused and he looks back, then at George.
He holds onto the table to keep crouched, because he suddenly feels a weight in his body he didn't before and points with his chin to the scalpel.
All the while thinking... )
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She does look to the scalpel at first, as she takes and wedges a piece of cotton into her elbow to slow the bleeding, but she's also feeling a little woozy, so she goes for the IV stand instead. It has a little more heft and a little more accuracy in her current state. And then, keeping her grip steady, she turns and slams it into the head of the witch bending over his work (14 vs. 7), sending him stumbling to the ground.
Not unconscious, not on the first try, but a pretty solid hit.
George tries to snap himself back into focus, and he does notice Matt crouching there (15). And curious man that he is, he can't help but ask: "Where did you come from?"
Elena doesn't like that question so she tries to hit him again (5 vs. 16). This time he's ready for her though, and ducks before pushing back to his feet.
"Naughty girl, Dr. Gilbert. I thought you had an arrangement."]
Again, I said I'd go quietly. Didn't promise I'd stay quiet.
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"Yeah!" Matt's yell overlaps George's recognition. It all happens at once as Elena attempts another blow and misses.
Matt grabs the scalpel Elena was going to, jumping up. He lands in a defensive stance, scalpel at the ready to stab at him.
"Peace. You?"
Dean's arm comes around George's throat and he holds him there. He's going to say something, his girlfriend is there - but, he can't help but - )
Elena, are you -- Matt?!
( He remembers Matt. He should feel guilty about why he remembers Matt, but he was a teenager and Matt was alive. He remembers scanning obits one day and passing Matt's off to Sam. The work of a vampire. Poor kid. )
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Wait, you see him too?
[Don't judge her, she's still a little out of it.
Unfortunately, George isn't going to give them much time to recover, because although he may look like a tottering old man, he's still an incredibly powerful witch, so his hand comes forward, looking to slam into Dean's forehead (nat 20 vs. 11), and Dean feels waves of pain roll through him, forcing his muscles to rigidly snap into place. Dean fights back just enough to keep control of his mind and not allow himself to be turned into a puppet but for the moment he can't move.
Elena does catch that something is wrong and she grits her teeth before swinging her IV stand at him again (7 vs. 19), and George ducks away again.
He is deceptively spry.]
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That's for coercing and kidnapping my friend. Why don't you just hold blood drives like everyone else.
( Dean can't move. He has felt this before. But, it's more than a demonic pinning. It's like his limbs aren't his own. And, very quickly, his mind isn't either. (3) to fight back. He goes rigid, the soldier his father wanted him to be, bringing his arm down and letting George go, eyes turning -- cruel. )
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"There, that's better. Now, would you please relieve Dr. Gilbert of her weapon and put her back into the restraints please?"]
Dean?
[She's done this song and dance before - trying to appeal to someone who just isn't there, but this isn't like a vampire with their switch flipped. Dean just isn't home.
Elena stumbles backwards bringing up the IV stand between them and trying to keep a tight hold of it (8), but as much as she may have trained and tried to improve her physical prowess, it doesn't come anywhere close to Dean, who's had combat training his whole life.
She grits her teeth, waiting for Dean to charge her before shoving back as hard as she can, looking to pin him back against the wall (nat 20), catching him enough by surprise that she can toss back over her shoulder to Matt.]
You have to break his concentration.
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So Elena catches him at the right angle with the right amount of force and sending him backwards into one of the lab tables. Beakers go flying and break around him as "Dean," tries to wrestle with the IV hook.
Unfortunately, he gets a nat 20 as well and yanks it out of Elena's hands completely, attempting to land a blow to her jaw with the bottom before tossing it aside.
Matt, at the same time, slides across the table like he hasn't been dead for a decade or more and comes down with a striking stab with the scalpel. He's not going in sweet or or timid or with a swipe. It's a full-blown stab. (13) )
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