for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[bibrid]

I will. And I'll talk to Josie. You dropped a big bomb.

( It was bound to make a big impact. )

But, for what it's worth, I'm happy it's not hanging over our heads.

( Or Josie's kids. And since Josie is off and her boyfriend is giving her space. Thank you, Danny for understanding Saltzman business. )

Hey, mom? ...Did you ever see me being a mom?

[saveslives]

I thought about it. I don't think you can have kids and not think about your kids having kids.

[It is the circle of life in a roundabout way.]

But I didn't want to put too much pressure on you, though. You both had to find your own lives - decide what you wanted.

[bibrid]

You didn't. Or wouldn't. And I know you gave us space to be who we are and to work things out between us and really get it right, finally, as sisters. But, I'm talking about... I can't anymore. I can't have my own kids. So, the curse is quashed but -- I'm not continuing our family line that's finally free.

( It's heady. )

[saveslives]

[Jo considers quietly for a moment, because she knows there's a difference. Between children that are yours and ones that you adopt or bring into your family in other ways. But there also isn't all the same.]

It's not all about bloodlines, Lizzie. If you make a family for yourself, whatever shape that takes, it will be my family too. So long as it's something you decide for yourself and makes you happy. You don't bring less value to this family just because you're not having biological children.

[bibrid]

I don't think I do, for the record, and I would rock a foster mom sitch if it ever came up. ( The nice way of saying, this isn't about what you think. ) I just - was too young to think about motherhood before the biological choice was taken away.

[saveslives]

Yeah, you were.

[She pauses quietly, because she's not sure she's the best person to talk through those feelings with. She's never been in Lizzie's shoes.]

Are you regretting it now?

[bibrid]

Not regretting. I did what I had to do. I was on a mission. And I knew the possible consequences. I just... didn't think through all of them. Also, I was a terrible vampire protegé at first and that was a bummer. But, since I've really come into myself, I graduated, found Danny... I don't know. It's impossible not to think what if.

[saveslives]

Maybe don't think of it as a what if.

[Because there are lots of options on the table, even a potential cure if Lizzie wants to wait for Rebekah to come to the end of her life - she has the time for that.]

The world is an ever-changing place. Maybe think of it as a potential possibility.

[bibrid]

( that gets her to smile. )

OK. Josie will be OK, too. And she'll start to see all the potential. And if not, I'll draw her a diagram.

[saveslives]

I know you will.

[The balcony overlooks the parking lot, and she sees when Stefan and Buffy pull into the parking lot. Huh. They made good time.]

Alright, I have to go. But I love you. Have fun with Danny.

[bibrid]

I will! He had me try red velvet. I'll call you tomorrow.

( And with that, Buffy links arms with her paramour as they make their way to the hotel from the parked car. )

[somanyadjectives]

[Stefan gets them into an elevator, before looking back at her.]

So Kai is a siphon, which means he can't draw on his own natural magic - he has to draw it from other people, like the twins. So - stay out of touch range, and if he happens to touch me and he looks like he's going to cast something? Knock him out.

[They don't have any anti-magic manacles, and he might be able to siphon from those anyway. Making him unconscious is the best approach and given the amount of damage he's done in the past, he has it coming.]

[attainathons]

But, you do have to touch him to head-dive.

( There is no way that touching won't be involved. )

Can he touch me and get the same jones, or Alaric, or Jo?

[somanyadjectives]

Not necessarily, it's just ... easier.

[He's old enough and has been on human blood long enough that he can manage it. For the questions, though, he glances to her as he frowns.]

Jo, yes. Ric, no. You ... maybe. He can siphon vampires because magic created us. If magic is what makes you a Slayer, he could probably draw on that.

[attainathons]

Magic is. Old, sexist men made sure of that. It's demonic, technically. Big shadowbox. Had this whole walkabout years and years ago. Messy origin story.

( She looks away. )

No touching Kai, check.

[somanyadjectives]

Better safe than sorry.

[They arrive at the Saltzmans' door and Stefan knocks with a heavy sigh.]

Honestly, the harder thing is going to be not punching him in the face. Because he will push every button he can find if he can.

[attainathons]

So, he's a dick.

( Alaric answers the door, Kai still sprawled out on one of the beds having broken into the candy ontop of the minibar. He really scored. Old Baywatch episodes, and ones he hasn't seen!

"Stefan, thanks for coming," he says, moving out of the way. "Buffy." )

Really wish the circumstances of all of us coming together would stop being threats to our lives. Some offense meant.

( "No offense taken," Kai says, muting the TV and then practically bouncing to the edge of the bed. He approaches Buffy first, offering a hand. "Love the name. Feels very... Clueless." Buffy doesn't budge. "Oh, he told you not to make skin to skin contact because you're magic and he thinks I'll siphon toy and make my big move. Which, if I were to have any move in mind, wouldn't I have siphoned my sister before you got here? Conundrum." )

[somanyadjectives]

["We don't think you're stupid, Kai. You have little impulse control, but you do have some." Jo points out before looking over at their two guests. "Thank you for coming."

Stefan nods as they make their way inside, keeping himself between Kai and Buffy.]

We have absolutely zero reasons to trust you, so I think you should probably just quit while you're ahead, and let's just get this over with.

[paraphrasing]

( Kai takes a generous step back, letting Stefan come to - his girlfriend's? rescue. )

I see Valerie's far in the rearview. Literally.

( He looks from Buffy to Stefan. )

Hey, I'm the first person to tell you why you shouldn't trust me. But whatever's rattling around up there feels a lot like impulse control. I don't want to kill, siphon, maim, or murder any of you. Even you, Stefon. But, go ahead. Don't just take my word for it.

( He presents his head, leaning forward a bit. Awkwardly. )

Do what you gotta'.

[somanyadjectives]

[It's true, and Stefan is going to do just that, pushing forward and slipping into Kai's mind, to whatever safe space his mind palace chooses to take. He can do that and remain standing, but Kai collapses back onto the bed and Stefan does his best to remain focused in the dreamscape.

It's because of that he doesn't notice that Jo also collapses suddenly. Not until he turns and scans the space and sees that she's also standing there with him.]

Uh ...

["I did not voluntarily hitch a ride here," Jo says, holding up her hands. "Did you accidentally catch us both?"]

I'm strong, but I'm not that strong.

[paraphrasing]

( Stefan takes the three of them to the sitting room of the Salvatore mansion, circa 1994.

That's right, the three of them, because Kai is sitting by the fireplace and looking at Stefon - and his sister. )

Unless he was trying for us both, but you were across the room and not underhand. My theory? We're still one in the same. Separate in body, but not in mind. What's the old movie, I feel like there was an old movie, one body, two personalities. Or, maybe two brains. The man with? I don't know, but, Jo's clearly hitched a ride.

[somanyadjectives]

["Which means Ric is probably freaking out right now and I should go back. So let's get what we need and make it fast."

Stefan tips his head to the side as he considers them both.]

So working theory is anything I do to Kai happens to Jo, right? So say I do this -

[A flash of vamp speed, a move to twist Kai's arm behind his back, hard, only releasing when he sees Jo give a twinge of pain in response.]

... Great.

[paraphrasing]

( On the other side, Buffy does confirm a pulse on Jo's body and asks if it's possible for her to have gone with him.

Inside, Kai's about to protest, but he's grabbed up and detained. As he's released, he shakes out the hurt arm. )

For the record, my theory was a little more - mental, but, great. Just great. We're linked-linked. Like, Bonnie-Elena linked.

[somanyadjectives]

Lucky you.

[And with that, Stefan will withdraw, bringing them all back to the real world because this is going to require a much larger conversation. He rubs at his eyes while Jo and Kai begin to come to, and sighs.]

They're still linked. They're just not in the same body anymore.

[Jo blinks awake and looks over at Buffy with a small smile, then back at her husband. "I'm fine."]

[paraphrasing]

( Alaric was hovering over her brother, while Buffy had been holding her hand. Buffy squeezes her hand before giving Stefan her attention. )

Or, mind. I can't read hers, not that I need to. ( A pointed line to Ric. ) ever again.

( "Linked, how?" Buffy asks, helping Jo as she sits up. "Like Elena's sleeping spell? Kai's sleeping spell? Except, neither of your are asleep and you were... both asleep?" )