everyonelives | for the rest of us death will be a relief

( Max checks his caller ID, smirks, and steps out of the room he's in, closing the door behind him. )

There are no casualties to report, Donna. Everyone is playing nice.

["Good to hear, Max. But that's not why I'm calling."

Donna glances up and Waverly can take her cue.]

Hi, Max, this is Special Agent Waverly Earp from Black Badge Division. We're investigating the recent resurrections, and were told that one of them may be under your care. We're trying to get as many of them as we can together in one place so we can gather as much evidence as we can to determine why this is happening.

We'll be meeting in Mystic Falls this coming weekend and wanted to extend that invitation to your guest, if they're willing to come.

( Under their care is a stretch, but in their hands, sure. A back-from-the-dead Isobel and Adrienne are a part of a set of resurrections. They are obviously playing with not enough cards. )

How many recent resurrections?

Including Adrienne and her vampire friend, we're up to twelve.

[Waverly's never been one to pretend she doesn't know something unless she's undercover and this doesn't seem like circumstances that require it.]

Appearing in at least six different cities across the US. Star City, Mystic Falls, New Orleans, Sioux Falls, Beacon Hills and New York.

( That's not a low number. It also feels significant. Maybe all numbers could be significant.

Mystic Falls. New Orleans. Beacon Hills. New York. )

What's the going theory?

Our working theory? Six degrees of Kevin Bacon.

[Which doesn't make a whole lot of sense but she'll continue to elaborate.]

There was magical event in Baltimore -

[Donna interjects. "Max knows a little something about that."]

Well, everyone who's resurrected so far seems to be within a six degrees of separation from someone who was there. We don't know what magic exactly was involved - hence the big group meetup in Mystic Falls - but the witches that have examined them say that whatever magic it is, it seems to be complete. No lingering triggers.

( He just - puzzles over that before she mentions Baltimore. )

Closed loop. ( Is that built into the -- he'll have to bring that back to their council. ) I'll float the offer to Adrienne and Isobel.

Great! I'll have Donna pass on the information. There's no pressure, but if you decide not to go, please keep us apprised if you notice anything strange or odd that may be happening? The more information we have the better we can get to the bottom of this.

[And with that she will grab a note pad off the desk and write the address and other information she has down.]

Thanks for your time!

Yep.

( He takes a second, flicking a thumb against his lip, hand still on his phone before turning back. He glances over at Isobel who stands and glances back.

He lets himself back into the room, joining the interrogation in progress and waiting for a beat to speak up. )

[Adrienne looks up when Max reenters the room, one leg crossed over the other. She seems much more calm than she is, and Jaqueline has very much been trying to get under her skin for the past ten minutes, while David watches and occasionally pulls her back.]

Is it time to trade Melrauxs?

That was Donna. There were twelve other resurrections. Connected back to one big magical event. In Baltimore.

( He'll get to the invites in a second. They should all discuss this, right? )

Could all of that energy pointed toward taking our bodies have brought others back?

[David's eyebrows go up.]

Twelve? All connected back to us?

[He runs a hand over his face as he tries to connect the dots.]

It's not that kind of ritual. Possessing someone takes different energy levels than bringing back someone whole-cloth. We could check, though. See if it has the same magical signature.

Connected to us and to people connected. My guess? Elena Gilbert. Her mother is right outside that door.

( And, to take in the significance of certain parties. The Winchesters. McCall pack, probably. )

You've been extended an invitation, Adrienne. You and Isobel. The others are being rounded up to Mystic Falls this weekend. Someone from a black ops organization thinks gathering everyone might give them answers. If you want them.

Black ops?

[The terminology is unfamiliar to her. David fills in the blank. "A government organization that isn't public facing. Tends to do things under the radar?"]

Like spies?

["Kind of but no." David glances back to Max. "Which black ops organization> Some of them like to throw people in cages so that they're never seen again."]

Edited 2026-01-01 21:43 (UTC)

Black Badge. As far as I know, caging ended a decade ago, and the contact, a Waverly Earp sounded more chipper than -- caging.

( But, who is he to say. )

It didn't sound like a trick. And if she's in line with Isobel's daughter and others affected by this... It sounds worth investigating. Maybe with an envoy.

[David nods slowly, before weighing his options.]

Well, since you still need to track down your AWOL husband, I can take them. I have connections in Mystic Falls.

[He turns to Adrienne and tips his head to the side.]

If you want to go, that is.

[Adrienne shrugs. "Information is information. And these are your allies, no? The ones who helped you win the Gauntlet?"]

Annihilate the gauntlet.

( But, yes.

"I'll go, too," Sierra says, having been quiet up until now. "I have some bridges that need mending. And I'd like to get my eyes on the doppelganger, myself." )

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( She waits for Donna to end the call. )

Thank you, Donna. This will make a difference.

Of course. And if I do hear from Rusty, I'll be sure to let you know.

[She's not holding her breath and she will be placing a call to Scarlett about this, but it's really the least she could do.]

I should get back to the party. Are you two planning to stay, or - ?

[Waverly glances back to Adal, clear that she could go either way, depending on what she's looking for.]

Let me consult my date.

( She isn't usually this brazen, but Donna is her oldest friend. And she's going to test the waters. That's what this is, right? Even Waverly's jacket reads va-va-voom. )

[The blush heads up to her cheeks at the word "date," and she blinks, before realizing that this decision is on her. Well.

If this is a date, then this should be a date. She's not going to have her first date in a long time be crashing someone else's corporate holiday party, even if that would be a fun future date.

Instead, it's go big or go home.

She turns back to Donna, and shakes her head.]

Maybe another time.

Another time. Thank you. Again.

( Leaving Donna behind, she snakes an arm through Waverly's leaning in, conspiratorially. )

Was that sprung on you?

[She pauses before shaking her head.]

No. I mean, kind of? But not in a bad way.

[Not in an unrequited way, which is the important thing.]

But if this is going to be a date date, I was thinking something more ... intimate.

Tell me more.

( She stays close, hitting the button to the elevator. )

Speak of this intended intimacy, Waverly Earp.

Well.

[She hasn't planned a date in so long, but she thinks she can find something that works well and allows her to salvage their going-out outfits.]

I was thinking dinner, somewhere nice. Preferably with wine. At least to start.