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

( 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." )

[Jaqueline flashes a look at her wife, because if Sierra has to go that means she has to go and ... "Fine. I'll go too. It'll be a party."

David's eyes narrow some at Jaqueline, but he looks back at Sierra.]

I don't know if that's the best idea. We don't know for sure who is going to be there. Some of the people from New Orleans might hold grudges.

[Fortunately Davina will not be there, nor will Hayley, but Derek sure will.]

And, in time I need to soften those grudges, but I suppose that can be done overtime. That means Max, we're going to be spending our honeymoon making sure you lock down that husband of yours.

( As last resorts, of course. )

[Don't worry, Sierra, Jaqueline will have a much better side quest coming for you. David relaxes some, before looking to Max.]

Did this Waverly Earp send the details? Ez and I still have an apartment in Mystic Falls, so I can open a door there the day off, and we can stay here if we need to.

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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.

I haven't heard word I don't like. ( Stepping into the elevator, something occurs to her. ) I never answered if I have Christmas plans, did I?

You didn't.

[Waverly turns to face her as the doors close.]

Do you want to come to my place? I mean, it's going to be pretty casual. The dress code is pajamas and holiday-themed onesies but it's not mandatory, much as my niece may imply. But if you're free, and you wanted to just ... spend some time, you'd be welcome.

[She won't add the pressure of meeting her amnesiac father even with ... that's totally what she'd be doing.]

Holiday-themed onesies. ( But despite that being against her dress code. She supposes the warmth of Christmas with Waverly, especially in the face of her son being somewhere, will feel better than going to the warehouse party. ) I want to. If you'll have me. Though, I confess, I have no knowledge of where to source this one-sie in such a short amount of time. I do own a few one-piece jumpsuits, but that feels overdressed.