for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[moralitypolice]

Thank you.

( When they've safely extracted Jo from the very tired, recovering siphon witch, everyone reconvenes in the hallway. Again. )

Just so you know, that's the last time Kai and I will ever be in the same room. Again. No matter how long he's here. If this is a Cinderella midnight situation, or he's back, or he's leeching off of you, Jo, because he would.

( She needs to make that painstakingly clear. )

Now. How the hell did this happen?

[saveslives]

Absolutely.

[She will second that assessment, because she doesn't want Bonnie to feel uncomfortable, and she appreciates her coming to deal with this.]

It could be a side effect of breaking the curse? That the people who are merged aren't anymore?

[She doesn't feel that different? In some ways it feels like Kai is still rattling around in the back of her mind, but he's clearly out and in his own space.]

[moralitypolice]

Then they should put that on the fine print.

( She tries to stop thinking about the worst-case scenario, but he always sets off her Kill Bill alarms. )

So. He's... back. Just like that. ( She turns to Alaric. ) What's going to happen when he doesn't have Jo's temperament. When he looks the wrong way at one of this back-from-the-dead siblings.

( "This is why I called Caroline." )

Caroline is on vacation and you were being a coward. She's right. You shouldn't have involved me. Figure out what the fuck is going on. Isaac and I are checking out. Tonight.

( Sorry, Isaac, she's decided. She leaves the marrieds there and stalks back off to her room as we break into two scenes.

Alaric -- has felt this defeated before.

"If I thought you were in danger," he starts. )

[saveslives]

[Jo watches them go, before turning back to her husband.]

It's Kai, Ric.

[There's always a danger, at least until they understand what's happening. And she shouldn't be the last to find out. He should be waking up her and then they're deciding who to call.]

Look, let's just ... figure this out as best we can.

[paraphrasing]

( How did Alaric get the blame for this?

Whatever, she's right. Though, he doesn't want to suggest anything anymore, because everything gets him yelled at.

Inside, Kai follows nature and heads into the bathroom after what feels like a hundred year nap. )

[saveslives]

[Jo hears him moving and lets herself back into the hotel room. Ric is welcome to come or he can stay out if he prefers. But she needs to have a conversation with her brother to find out if they can make this work.

So when Kai comes out, his sister is staring him down raising an eyebrow.]

Hi. We need to talk.

[paraphrasing]

( He's not leaving her alone with him and when he realizes Kai is up, he goes red - but, then he realizes he's in the bathroom, he hasn't escaped, and he doesn't seem to be lying in wait.

Kai washes his hands, because, gross, and lets himself out of the bathroom. )

You guys really need to learn how to keep it down. How's Bonnie by the way?

[saveslives]

Bonnie is not your concern.

[Which is putting it lightly, Kai will never go near her friend again if she can help it.]

Do you know how you got here?

[paraphrasing]

( Sighs. )

The paranoia is weirder outside of your mind, gotta say. And, didn't we both establish that in your mindscape? I helped you escape, not me. You and Bonnie turned your keys.

( He did not turn a key, only found a key. )

Ricky. Nice to see the overprotective streak is still going strong. Along with other ( Alaric shifts uncomfortably. ) things. Do you know how I got here?

[saveslives]

[Jo sighs, rubbing her eyes. She doesn't know why, but she feels like he's telling the truth. As unfortunate as it is.]

Working theory is that since we broke the curse, the merge may have ... reversed itself.

[paraphrasing]

Well, great for me, but wildcard for you, am I right? I mean, I got my own body back, I can just do whatever I want. Like the Macarena.

( He doesn't, for the record. But he could. )

[saveslives]

Then I guess that's the question. What do you want? Because I'm not interested in having a repeat of my wedding, or Josie's dark phase, or anything else that's ended violent and bloody with you in the middle.

[Killing people is not going to be on the table.]

Especially since there are a lot of people who will probably want to kill you.

[Bonnie may prefer to be hands off, and Elena isn't vindictive, but Damon? Stefan? Dean?]

[paraphrasing]

Hey, why does everyone forget I deceived one witch and kidnapped one person? Sure, I took a hold of your body and did some not very nice things, but, I had months to stew in there. This is years later, with your sensibilities, logic, and parental wisdom. I do have a sense of self preservation, contrary to what your husband and that long, long list of enemies think. And, not that you have reason to believe me, but whatever's rattling up here doesn't involve the R word.

( Revenge. )

[saveslives]

[Jo crosses her arms in front of her chest, exhaling with a sigh.]

You're right. I don't have a reason to believe you. Especially when I know the R-word is your favorite thing.

[Especially when, as he points out, he's had years to linger on it.]

[notwitty]

[Isaac quietly falls in step behind Bonnie as she heads back to the room and starts packing. He knows her well enough at this point to know that she doesn't rile this easily. And while a lot of what she said was personal, there's probably more.

So he sits on the edge of the bed and waits, letting the silence do the work for him.]

[moralitypolice]

( It takes her a few minutes, but she throws one of her camisoles in her suitcase and she braces herself against it, half-wanting to cry, half-wanting to set Kai on fire. )

[notwitty]

[Isaac watches her, before getting up and moving closer. He's putting himself in reaching distance if she needs it, but also not overtly reaching out to touch, just in case that isn't want she wants.]

If he's going to come at you, he has to go through me.

[He's not sure if that's comforting because he sounds like a guy who absolutely will, but he's putting it out there all the same.]

[moralitypolice]

( She turns to face him. )

I don't know if he will. I don't know what he's going to do or what this means. I just - he drives me crazy, Isaac. He always twists everyone to what he wants and then I'm the person that has to bend backwards, to forgive him for stranding me and putting me through the lowest point in my entire life.

[notwitty]

No one owes anyone their forgiveness.

[Isaac knows that better than anyone. He still hasn't forgiven his father. He's not angry at him anymore, nor does he think of him much, but a man who locks him in a freezer doesn't deserve to be forgiven.]

And we can go anywhere you want. I know you promised Elena that you'd be here for New Year's but I think she'd understand if you wanted to go back to London.

[Isaac doesn't know that Elena is going to come bearing Matt news either.]

Or we can go to New Orleans. We have a lot of allies there. Maybe Freya or Davina have a spell that could hide you from him.

[moralitypolice]

( He's there for her, offering alternatives, options and DefCon 1's. )

No, I - I know Jo will keep me out of it and it will be easy to keep Kai somewhere else. Kai had no leash before, now he has a sister he was integrated with. Maybe that will make a difference, but I'm not waiting to find out. ( She turns back to her things. ) Elena said we can use the apartment if we're in town. For tonight, at least, and the weekend, we can stay in Mystic Falls. I'm not running. Kai will not drive me out of the country.

[notwitty]

Okay.

[Mystic Falls it is. He pulls back and prepares to pack, before glancing back at her.]

Maybe Jo will keep us apprised of his movements. So we can make sure we're not where he is. You said he cursed Elena - should we let her know too?

[moralitypolice]

( She hates this part. Phone tree-ing. And this isn't for their group text, though she will quickly send a text to Caroline

Hey, I'm sorry for biting your head off. Kai is back, I don't know anything else. I'm letting Jo deal with it. About to call Elena. Love you and I hope Ryan's family isn't as crazy as all of this.

She sighs, sitting next to her suitcase as Isaac pulls his own out. She dials Elena's number. )

[braveandstupid]

[Caroline responds almost immediately: I love you, and again, I'm sorry for dumping this on you. I'll keep in touch with Ric. And it is breathtakingly normal. Tell you all about it at New Year's.

It takes a few rings but eventually the call is answered. There's a quiet pause before a very sleepy Elena brings the phone to her ear. After talking to all her boys, and getting Matt settled in one of the rooms and having a talk with Dean that is still TBD, Elena collapsed into bed and slept hard. But Bonnie Bennett is someone she will always answer the phone for.]

Bonnie?

[moralitypolice]

Hey, - Elena ( Having Isaac there helps her to say this while he packs. He believes in her. He wants her safe. And he cares about her friends. ) So, I have another name to add to our long list of returns along with my grandmother and Matt. ( And Tyler's mom. Bonnie has been sleeping since then and she's not a big fan of these massive group chats. She prefers her smaller, Mystic Falls one. Like the one started today after this started happening. She tries not to pause too long. ) Elena, it's Kai. We think when the curse was broken he and Jo -- unmerged.

[braveandstupid]

[Elena sits up suddenly, possibly jostling Dean next to her, and she can't help but groan. She thought she would get at least something of a break before the next big thing happened, but she should know better.]

I guess with all the good news there would inevitably be some disappointments.

[She scrubs a hand over her face.]

Are you okay?