for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[maleficum]

[David glances up at him, and Ezra can probably see in his husband's eyes that he would do the same. Probably do worse than the same, if he ever lost him.]

I feel like it's probably not healthy to say out loud what I would do for you.

[praevaricatio]

We're not the healthiest people.

( But he can live with it if David can. )

I'm sorry I almost died on you.

[maleficum]

You didn't die. So there's nothing to apologize for.

[They knew some people would get stabbed, and while he did bite back some anger when Bela went for Max first, but Max was worse off, and they would have lost Jaqueline if he had died, so maybe for the best things went the way they did.

It didn't matter. Ezra was still alive.]

We just have to make sure you stay that way until Bela's blood is out of your system.

[Unless, of course, he's looking to become a vampire, in which case they should probably have a conversation about it.]

[praevaricatio]

I can stay out of trouble for twenty-four hours.

( He can try, anyway. )

I keep thinking about Irina, that being there for her at all, it's a pipe dream I never knew I might have wanted. And I still don't know if I did want it, or if circumstances just were what they were. She's safer and happier where she is. I know that.

[maleficum]

That doesn't mean she won't need a family. And she is technically a Colony witch.

[That comes with promises and powers the Salvatore School can't really help her with.]

We can talk with Caroline after the holidays. See what she thinks would be the best approach. But eventually we are going to have to build lives, Ez.

[Now would be a good time to think about what they want.]

[praevaricatio]

Rebuild.

( He reaches out for his husband's hand, pulling him around the corner and closer to him. )

You think we could do it. Raise Irina. Be parents. Co-represent this coven. Happily ever after?

[maleficum]

Nothing to stop us anymore.

[It's truly starting to sink in now that they're free. They're actually free.]

No more pretending we're towing their line. They're gone, Ez. And we're in charge now.

[He knows it's not going to be easy or simple and there's a lot of cleanup to do, but they can do it their way.]

[praevaricatio]

We're in charge.

( The mantle doesn't quite feel like his. But, he'll grow into it. He can already feel the darker parts of that latching onto his heart. Don't ask. )

[tearhiseyesout]

[He might one day, but before he can, Jaqueline and Max swan in to draw both of their attention.]

We lost your ex.

[To Ezra.]

He seems to have slipped out while we were doing all that murder. So did Hallewell, but he's a separate, less immediate problem.

[praevaricatio]

We?

( Really not a bone of contention Max needs, who shakes his head, like what even are you. This isn't a contest. Pay attention. )

No one had him on a real leash?

[tearhiseyesout]

No, and I didn't get a chance to get a bead on him because they had us all sequestered.

[Jaqueline is only a Find My Friends for her actual friends. New Guy doesn't count.]

Sierra was tracking down her parents to make sure they were dead, and I was wrangling minions. Do you three have a good excuse for what you were doing?

[David opens his mouth, before sighing. "We'll find him. Max isn't in incredible pain so I'm assuming he hasn't gone far."]

[praevaricatio]

Not that he knows not to go far.

( But Ezra wasn't about to explain everything to him, nor was he able to, having been sequestered himself. )

He probably went to a casino his sister's family owns. There's one here in Baltimore. If we confirm that, then we can let him cool his heels while Max works on his marriage pitch.

( Max flips Ezra the bird.

"He's your ex." )

College ex. I was pre-med and we...

( "Yeah, yeah," Max says, huffing. "How are we going to confirm?" )

I would call.

[tearhiseyesout]

Great. You do that. Once you confirm, we'll go get him and that'll be that.

[And they can finalize this bullshit so that they can move on with their lives. Success.]

[praevaricatio]

He's not my husband.

( He can, and will, but needs to be a little more difficult. )

[tearhiseyesout]

No, but you're the only one of us who actually knows him and we need him back.

[Ezra is the direct line.]

And I don't think he'd pick up for the rest of us. He might pick up for you if he has anything related to a guilty conscience.

[praevaricatio]

I don't know him like that.

( Not anymore. )

Fine. I'll try. But, it's not like I have his number, so I'll have to call the casino.

( He sighs, pulling his phone out, searching the web. Finding the number. He connects the call and sees who he's put through to. )

[klep]

[The phone rings once, twice, then the line clicks to life, revealing a cool, professional customer service voice of the front desk agent on the other side.

"Thank you for calling YoungShot Casinos. This is Edith, how may I help you?"]

[praevaricatio]

Yes, I'm trying to reach a friend I believe is currently staying at your casino. Elton Zhao.

( It's a longshot at YoungShot, but it's better than bringing Max to him. )

[klep]

[Edith is preparing to give her professional "oh so sorry, we're not allowed to give out any information about guests" but when he says "Elton Zhao," that name puts this in a very different conversation. The Azuma siblings had put an alert out regarding their wayward step sibling, asking that any mention of Elton be redirected to their offices.

So instead of a dismissal, Ezra hears: "Please hold."

Then, nothing but the most annoying hold music. In fact, it almost feels like the hold music goes on for too long because the person in Emi's office to take this call is going to listen to the very short front of the call, and go through the cameras to see if they do actually have Elton, before the line finally clicks over and Ezra hears a familiar voice.]

Hey, Ezra. Long time.

[He doesn't give his name, But Felicity's got good ears.]

[praevaricatio]

Felicity. You're still affiliated.

( On the one hand, there is a nostalgia for simpler times in his tone. On the other, he always thought she was one of the other shoes to drop. Never quite accepting him. Never understanding how secretive her friend really was. )

[klep]

Sure. Affiliated. We'll go with that.

[She leans back in the chair behind Emi's desk, rotating slightly as she listens.]

What can I do for you?

[praevaricatio]

You already know, or you wouldn't have diverted the call. I need to speak to Elton.

( So, cut the shit, his tone says. Behind the smile, of course. )

[klep]

Well, now, Ezra, you know what they say about assumptions.

[Her tone is ever so casual, not giving anything away just yet.]

Elton's been missing for a few months now. We have protocols set up to divert calls mentioning him because we're worried.

[She says as she watches Emi and Elton chat at the bar. Nothing she's said is a lie though.]

Do you happen to know something?

[praevaricatio]

I know he can't travel more than sixty miles outside of his new husband's radius, so pass that along when you do see him. He will be in a lot of pain if not.

( So, at least push that along. )

[klep]

Husband.

[That's new and interesting information she's going to take with a grain of salt.]

Well, if he checks in, I'll be sure to let him know.

[She will send a text to Emi as she speaks though: Ezra on the phone. Says Elton has a new husband and can't leave a sixty mile radius of him?

Might as well cover their bases.]