for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[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?

[moralitypolice]

No? I kind of jumped down Caroline's throat and then stuck it to Ric? I already apologized to Caroline who was dragged in the middle of it, and, I'll -- apologize to Ric, later.

( But, as for -- how is she feeling. )

I hate him, Elena. I probably always will.

[braveandstupid]

After everything he put you through, I really don't blame you. I'm not really thrilled he's back either.

[Her boyfriend is going to lock her in the bunker so that she doesn't get kidnapped or cursed again.

They all have their people, who get under their skin in ways that are hard to come back from. As much as Elena has been making some progress with Katherine, she's never going to fully trust her, nor is she going to want her in her space.

She could understand if Bonnie felt the same way about Kai.]

Do you know what Jo is going to do?

[moralitypolice]

No, I told them to leave me out of it. But, I know she'll tell me. At least to keep a wide berth between us.

( Which, she wants. )

I wish I had better news. ( She rubs at her eye. ) How's Matt doing? There are all kinds of other reports of people. Couldn't it have been, I don't know, let's play anyone but Kai.

[braveandstupid]

At least the others have been friends rather than foes.

[She doesn't know Angel or Cordy but she knows they're allies of the Winchesters and she's glad they have their friend back. Derek and his beta. The Harvelles.

And then, because she's Elena:]

If you want to skip New Year's and go back to London, I'd understand.

[Though she's sure Matt will be disappointed, but they have more time.]

[moralitypolice]

I'm not skipping New Years. Why does everyone think I'll let Kai run me out of my own hometown. Just because I'm not going to be in the same room with him doesn't mean I'll let him dictate what I do and where I go.

( And she's done huffing for more important things. )

But, you needed to know. I have no reason to think he'll target you. I really think he's been there, done that, but you - ( Deserved the right, another way to put it. ) How are you doing? I mean, Matt... I can't wait to see him.

[braveandstupid]

I'm not thinking that. I'm just letting you know it's an option because I also remember me being rather adamant about everyone attending.

[But good to know that she will still be there. She's missed Bonnie so much.

When the topic changes to her, however, she sighs.]

I'm ... fine. And Matt seems good? I think he's excited to see everyone. Have you heard from Tyler?

[moralitypolice]

And I know what adamant Elena is like. I'm not going to disappoint her, not even if my nemesis has somehow returned along with everyone else in our lives.

( Which is a lot, but she's not letting it get to her. Well, she is. She really is. But Elena is helping. )

Tyler's... mom is back. Carol Lockwood was at a bus stop. He didn't tell you?

[braveandstupid]

[She does feel her breath catch at that because good. She was starting to feel like she was being gifted an embarrassment of riches. She would want to spread the wealth around.]

He probably did, but I've been asleep and I haven't checked my messages. I just always pick up when Bonnie Bennett calls.

[moralitypolice]

Well, Bonnie Bennett appreciates it. When you get the chance, call Caroline, too. I mean, we all got parents and grandparents in our stockings this year. And it's really weird. But - not bad that we're not hating it, right?

( Even if dynamics will have to be reestablished and the world is nothing like anyone remembers it. )

[braveandstupid]

I will call Caroline. And yeah, it is wild. But I definitely don't hate it.

[She doesn't know the full roster yet, but when she does catch up on the group chats she will have a lot of feelings.]

I'll see you soon?

[moralitypolice]

Oh, I should - probably ask. Isaac and I are leaving Williamsburg. Are you okay if we crash at your place? Or, are you coming back tonight?

( It's important to ask to do things, even though she knows Elena wouldn't mind - or say no. )

[braveandstupid]

No, of course. Take the guest room. I'm not sure what we're doing yet, but there's plenty of room.

[She'll talk with Tyler. Maybe they can open up the rooms at the Lockwood Mansion for some of their wayward wanderers because while there is Damon's house, well.

She has a feeling there's a few of them who would prefer not to sleep there, never mind actually asking Damon to use the house. He did say he was leaving home so she doesn't even know if he sold it.]

Worst comes to worst, it's winter break. We can have them sleep at the school.

[moralitypolice]

We'll find somewhere.

( If Elena's concerned, then Bonnie isn't. )

Anyway, that's what I called to tell you. The Kai of it all.

[braveandstupid]

I appreciate the heads up. And I'll see you soon.

[She's surrounded on all fronts right now so she feels safe enough not to worry about Kai. And now it seems she has a pile of mountains to go through.]

Love you.

[moralitypolice]

I love you. Get some more sleep. I promise, Jo, or me, will update you.

( She hangs up, turning back to Isaac. )

[notwitty]

[He glances back to face her, his bags packed during this conversation.]

Everything good with Elena?

[He says like he couldn't hear the conversation with his werewolf ears. Honestly, he wasn't listening that hard, he's mostly worrying about Erica.]

[moralitypolice]

Yeah. I think we're past the worst of everything with this coven out of commission, but she needed to know about Kai. She also gave us permission to sleep in her guest room tonight, which we will be taking her up on.

( The 'If that's alright with you,' is implied. )