for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[scrutinously]

( "She can't --" he says, feeling his back pocket, for -- he looks up at Parker and back down at her. "From a vampire."

Gray sucks in a breath. )

Elena Gilbert. He's human. In... our world. And you're older. You're our aunt Jo. You took us to Switzerland once.

[polydeukes]

[Sophie looks apologetic. "She has had a lot of practice." She then looks up to the thief above her. "Give it back, Parker."]

Oh, that makes sense.

[In some weird, roundabout way that only their world would make sense in. She's curious about how things landed there.]

I don't think I've ever been Jo. That's always been my mom, and people would just get confused.

[A beat.]

Was it a good trip?

[scrutinously]

( Parker grins, fishes his wallet out of the cereal box like he's found a prize and tosses it down into Damon's awaiting hands.

"How'd she do that?"

Wasn't she up there? The entire time? Her mom. This is one of those land mines he and his sister are going to encounter. ) It was great. You were doubling a visit to see your sister and her husband. I think our parents were grateful for the break. They don't really fly international.

[polydeukes]

["She's the best thief in the world," Sophie replies. "She doesn't give away her secrets for free."

Aww, Lizzie's married. Part of Josie wants to ask who it is. She wants to ask it she's seeing anyone. But there's also part of her that doesn't help but feel like that's spoilers.]

Good. Glad I could pay it forward. Are you going back to Mystic Falls to see Elena?

[scrutinously]

Yeah, a bunch of us are. And this guy named Barry. Make sure we're all okay molecularly, I guess.

( Damon smirks, finishing off the last of his glass. "Make sure she doesn't steal from my kids," he says, finally, leaving everyone there. )

[polydeukes]

[Sophie lifts her drink in agreement, and she will keep an eye on them. If nothing else by the time he returns, anything stolen they'll be able to steal back.

She nods.]

Right. Erica, too, which is why we were going shopping. Are you coming back to New Orleans after? Damon's been living here for a while.

[scrutinously]

I don't know, probably. Our mom has a boyfriend, a life, and didn't know we existed until he called. So. Maybe.

( Maybe. )

We're all going shopping?

[polydeukes]

Oh. We're going shopping.

[She gestures to her and Erica. She doesn't know if Damon will be okay with that.]

But if you're coming back, maybe we can hang out some more. You can tell me more about future me.

[scrutinously]

Oh. Right. You want to know about her? That won't be weird?

( He's never been a shopper, anyway. And shopping with his younger aunt and the hot werewolf girl - and his sister - yeah, he'd rather feel whole, with an identity today.

Speaking of... )

I think it's my turn.

[polydeukes]

Nah, I think it'd be cool.

[She has her own story to tell, but it could be fun to peak at someone else's. She then takes Erica's hand as they turn to head to the door.]

We'll see you around.

[And with that, she and Erica will head out the door while Breanna gets ready to set Gray up. Stephanie eyes up curiously, if there's something he wants to talk about, but she wait to see if he actually wants to talk.]

[scrutinously]

What. That's Aunt Josie. But, like, the Sliding Doors version. With two alive parents and a genuine smile on her face.

( Breanna can say whatever she wants, listen in, he feels freer talking about everything. And his sister was giving him that look. )

I know I've been taking this really well, but, that may have finally taken me to my limit. Everything here is different.

[meanestgirl]

Yeah.

[Stephanie settles, studying her new ID as she's glad that her brother is finally catching up with her in terms of freak-out land.]

Sure you want to go back to Mystic Falls still?

[scrutinously]

We don't have a choice. We may not know this version of him, but he's our dad. I at least trust that. If there are answers there, then, we stay on our best behavior, let all sleeping dog secrets lie unless directly asked - we'll survive it.

( Because they have each other. Yuck. He did not say that part out loud. )

[meanestgirl]

[Gross, sibling bonding.

But she sighs and nods.]

Fine. But if I tell the wrong person they're dead, it's on you both.

[Because from what she's guessing there's going to be a lot of dead people who aren't dead.]

[scrutinously]

( He keeps back his question, if his sister doesn't want to go to Mystic Falls - and why. But, they have to. There are too many questions. )

Blaming me will go over well.

( And make no sense. But, he'll take it. If we don't have any final beats here... )

[meanestgirl]

[Nope, this will be a wrap. She simply nods with a:]

Don't say I didn't warn you.

[And she'll head off to see if there are any snacks. /wrap]