for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[vampireboulevard]

Haven't met Malia yet.

[Guess she's going to. But she has heard things, which also line up with terrible bedside manor.

She waits until she picks up everyone leaving and she tries to put a smile into her voice because it is good to hear it. Elena and Jeremy will be so happy to see her.]

Hi, Jenna. I'm sorry that you probably had to hear all of that, but I wanted to make sure people would be prepared to help you. How are you feeling?

[unpreparedness]

Not probably.

( But, she is an adult. Perhaps, not the grown adult in this situation, but old habits, old dynamics. )

I'm - dealing. I remember everything, including my conversation with Katherine thinking it was Elena. ( She feels herself getting riled up, but pauses, closing her eyes. ) And Klaus' ritual. And then I woke up on a stump. And, instead of an ineffectual poor excuse for a guardian, now I'm a baby vampire - your words, stuck inside for a few hours who needs to keep a handle on her emotions. Also, your mom is entirely too chill with all of this.

[vampireboulevard]

Mom has had a lot of time to get use to things. Things changed a lot, after. But Elena and Jeremy are okay. Elena's a doctor now, and she's living in Kansas with her partner and Jeremy has a gallery in Portland, and he's got a really great girlfriend who I'm pretty sure he's going to propose to at some point. They're both going to be really happy to see you.

[She also knows she should probably tell her about the rest but she's working up to it. She wants to try and calm any nerves and any worries that come from the last thing she remembers.]

There's also a lot of people coming back and while it wasn't part of this exactly, your sister and her husband got brought back too.

[She's not sure that Miranda will handle it as well as the younger Gilberts, but just putting it out there.]

And you will be okay. I know it's a lot right now, but really, everything is going to be fine. Stiles knows exactly what you're going through right now, and he's going to do his best to help. He's a good person to trust.

[unpreparedness]

( Elena and Jeremy calm her and help crack a smile. Portland isn't far from California. And a girlfriend. He got himself together. Well, kept himself together. Jeremy did do better very suddenly, and then maintained. She tries to climb through the last few days but then - )

My - Miranda and Grayson?

( That has to be them. That's her sister and her sister's only husband. )

As much as I feel like I'm being handled, I can recognize what you're trying to do. And I get it. So, I'm going to cooperate. Because Elena and Jeremy and my sister are somewhere right now. And, I hope, after talking to you, someone will get me in touch with them. I think that's fair, don't you?

[vampireboulevard]

You are totally right.

[And she can work with that. She pulls her phone away from her ear and dips back into the messages she's been ignoring to get a status on her friends. Then she comes back to the call.]

Elena is asleep, but I will text Jeremy. Have Stiles text me a good number to call you on if he needs his phone and I will do what I can to get Miranda in touch with you. Okay?

[unpreparedness]

Fine. I will find a number to give Stiles. ...Stiles is my vampire sponsor? ( He didn't introduce himself. She turns to open the door again. ) Thanks, Caroline. I'm sorry for giving you a hard time. But I do wish everyone would have more faith in me. I'm not the grad student who couldn't keep a goldfish alive. I'm new. But, I'm not young.

[vampireboulevard]

I do have faith in you, even though I know that's probably not how it sounds. But what you're going through is hard. I want to make sure you have support. And I promise, once we have time I will do the full vampire training package.

[She pauses, and turns a bit more vulnerable.]

I did a lot of damage when I thought I had everything handled and it turns out I really didn't. I don't want you to have to live with that too.

[unpreparedness]

What I have is a Stiles. And your mom. And the sheriff and a deputy. I'm not looking to do damage inside a police station, but if I think it's going to become a Tarantino film in here, I'll have Stiles call.

( She hangs up, sucking in a breath she doesn't need to take. It was harsh. But, she's frustrated. She pushes back hunger she feels in her eyes. She's fine. She opens the door again, finding Stiles and tossing his phone at her.

"Caroline says she's going to pass my sister's number along, so, please provide her with a number Miranda can use. Also, so everyone can just keep an eye on me," she says, sitting in one of the chairs. She holds the arms. She's right here. )

[vampireboulevard]

[Caroline sighs as she pulls down the phone before turning to face Ryan and all of the conversation crashes down on her because yes, she probably fucked that up, but also her mom is alive, and Jenna is alive, and her to-do list for the evening has just expanded.

So she just begins to speak, words flowing out of her mouth faster and faster:]

Okay, so I have to call Jeremy so he can prepare his mom and then I have to call Serena to see if she's in California, and then I have to go apologize to your family, because I am about to bail. I'm about to bail so hard, and I'm so sorry, but I need to go to Beacon Hills.

[quesadilla]

( Ryan stays close, cold forehead to cold forehead, hands rubbing her sides as the words tumble out. )

Hey, hey, it's okay. ( In a minute, he'll tell her they're about to bail - together ) Take however long you need. Make your mental list. If you need me to go in and tell them that we need to leave early, that's what I'll do. I'll even pack while you make whatever arrangements and calls you need. I can also call Serena if you don't want everything on your shoulders. Just know they're not only your shoulders. ( He holds her closer. ) And, if you need another minute for just yourself or just us, I'm not going anywhere, okay?

[vampireboulevard]

[It's still new, sometimes, having someone who has her back. She's certainly not mad at it and some of the tension relaxes from her shoulders. She leans on him, solid and steady, as she tries to figure out what to do next.]

I don't want to bail completely, so maybe once we get my mom settled I could come back? I don't know. We just ... I have to get to Beacon Hills first. And if you could call Serena and find out where she is, that would be very helpful, thank you.

[She shifts forward, winding her arms around his neck and leaning in close.]

And thank you for just ... being you.

[quesadilla]

Thank you, for helping me be me again.

( She's the influence in him he's needed. )

I'll call Serena, you call Jeremy, and then we'll go inside, united front. We can go with work or a family emergency, whatever you want. And no talking about coming back until we know the answers you need. Seth and Summer will understand. So will Sandy. Ignore Kirsten.

[vampireboulevard]

You say that like it's easy to ignore Kirsten.

[Because it is not, and she loves Ryan very much so naturally does not know what to make of Caroline and Ryan's rapidly shifting relationship.]

Also speaking of mothers, my mother was a sheriff in her previous life, but also she had known all my previous boyfriends since they were small children so I honestly don't know what will happen there.

[She takes a deep breath.]

Sorry, I really need to call Jeremy before he passes out, just, thank you. I love you. Please don't let my mom scare you off.

[She will realize in three seconds what she actually said but it's not important (it's very important, she just has other things to panic about right now).]

[quesadilla]

Sandy's in your corner. Kirsten will be soon enough.

And, I'm not afraid of meeting your mother, Caroline. And, when we do get back down here, we can go to Chino and visit mine. She's in a home, but I want you to meet her.

But, right now, call Jeremy. And then we will map out the best route from here to Beacon Hills and get back in touch with her and make a plan.

( Ryan lets Caroline stay in project mode, pulling out his own phone and stepping down onto the winding driveway. He walks a few feet away so he can focus on Serena, dialing her number.

Jeremy, exhausted, gets off the phone with his girlfriend and then sees someone else is calling him.

"Caroline?" )

[vampireboulevard]

Hey, Jeremy.

[He sounds so tired, she feels bad. But it needs to be done.]

Are you okay? No grievous bodily harm in storming the castle?

[Let's start there and work their way up to wrangling his mother.]

[barely]

Almost, but I owe Elijah one, now, I'm guessing. But, yeah, overall I'm okay. Is... everything okay with you?

( It can't be about Elena. )

This isn't about Matt, right, cause he has a temporary phone. I can get you his number.

[vampireboulevard]

This is not about Matt and ... no, I think it's pretty safe that I'm in the not okay category.

[Mostly because she can feel herself fucking up left right and center and being a terrible friend even if she's completely across the country from anything that's happening, but she's trying to give herself grace after being thrown a huge curveball.]

Three more returned people showed up in Beacon Hills. One of them was my mom.

[Which is why she is not okay.]

I'm not sure who the second one is but the third was Jenna. And she's a vampire.

[barely]

Caroline, what's wrong?

( And why is she calling him about it? He knows his sister just went to sleep, she messaged him that. Bonnie's been on the group text. She's around. )

Your - the sheriff? ( And then ) ...Jenna?

[vampireboulevard]

Yeah. And she's understandably having a hard time and she's had basically no vampire training, so ... Stiles and my mom are trying to keep her calm, but she wants to talk to you guys, more specifically your mom because I told her that your parents were back too.

[She takes a deep breath.]

I'm going to get a number for people to call her and you're welcome to use it, but you sound exhausted and I think Miranda is the one she really wants to talk to so can you prep your Mom for me? In the sense that Jenna is a vampire, and she's probably going to talk about it so I really need her to be warm, maternal, soothing Miranda Gilbert for a couple hours until I get there and check her vampire issues while she's doing it.

[A pause.]

And I'm probably saying this all wrong but I just ... I really need to get to my mom, and I don't know if I can effectively manage Miranda's feelings right now.

[barely]

I'll manage my mom's feelings and I really don't think Jenna's going to go telling her she's a vampire, but I'll do my best to field what I can. Does this need to happen now or can I do this when I wake up?

( So many assumptions. He's offended on behalf of several people, but he's also very tired. )

[seirenes]

[Serena answers on the second ring, a familiar cheerful voice coming through.]

Hey, Ryan! Happy winter holiday of your choosing.

[Because it is that time of year, and given the timing she doesn't think he's a "Yule" person, so best to cover your bases.]

[quesadilla]

Happy Chrismukkah, from Newport Beach. I'm here with Caroline. Are you also in California?

( Nice, but business. He already thanked you for the contribution to his finger that keeps him not burning to a crisp. )

[seirenes]

Oh, a merged holiday. Love that.

[More inclusivity would make the world a better place. She doesn't skip a beat at the question though.]

Today is your lucky day. I'm in Santa Monica. What can I do for you?

[quesadilla]

Yeah, it's my brother's tradition.

( And it's very cool and very sweet. )

I think Caroline's trying to connect to get a new vampire a daylight ring.

[seirenes]

Got it. Are you guys coming to me or am I meeting you somewhere? I may have to grab some supplies.

[Mostly the jewelry portion of the spell as she did not bring her lapis lazuli collection on this particular job.]