but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[engender]

Allison is on the same side. We're all on the same side.

( And they have been for a long, long time. ) She helps those that need it.

( Those like them, he doesn't say. )

[yourtype]

[Would have been nice if she was doing that before her grandfather had her and Boyd tied up and electrocuted in her basement. But Erica swallows that thought as she realizes that they're pulling up to a house, and she leans forward to get a better look.]

Whoa. This is Damon's house? How many people live here?

["Just Damon most of the time," Isaac replies. "But his brother and his girlfriend are currently there, I think?"

Allison and Elena have been handling most of the organization and he doesn't think Damon himself has arrived yet. But he brings the car to a stop and gives Enzo opportunity to get out.

Stefan, himself, is not currently home, he's out shopping for the meal he's helping to make, but he'll be back later. Eventually.]

Is everyone's house here that big?

[engender]

He's been living in New Orleans, ( Derek helpfully shares, recognizing the familiar house. After all, he'd had it cased and was kidnapped from here.

"Buffy and Stefan should be there, yep," Bonnie confirms.

Enzo, letting everyone gossip, just looks at the big house and his good taste.

"It's very... Damon," he says, getting out of the car.

"There's a lot of old money here in Mystic Falls and no real bad side of town," Bonnie adds. "If you don't count the reminders of racism." which she does. )

[yourtype]

Yeah, old money white people really have trouble letting those go.

[She then pauses, before glancing over at Derek.]

No offense.

[Look he may have lived in a train car but she's also seen his car. He has money, he just had priorities. Also she lived in Beacon Hills her whole life, she knows what the Hale house looked like before it burned down.]

[engender]

( He doesn't take that personally, also, he's half-white, so, do with that what you will. Or, don't. )

Different kind. Antebellum old money is here.

[yourtype]

Oh, yikes.

[She glances over to Bonnie in sympathy.]

Growing up here must have been ... interesting.

[To put it lightly.]

[engender]

( "They painted it pretty and threw some events that have been discontinued, at least," she answers with half a shrug.

"People really liked dressing up for Founder's Day and for the yearly screening of Gone with the Wind." Even if it was problematic. )

I like Gone with the Wind, but it is a product of its' time.

[yourtype]

I've never seen it.

[She didn't really have the time and she liked superheroes more.

Isaac shakes his head. "You're not missing much. I've come to like the real people better."

Erica tips her head to the side and stares at him.]

What?

["We met them at Thanksgiving. Scarlett bought me a very expensive shirt to make up for throwing me in a lake to save my life."]

[moralitypolice]

The castle exploded. The landing ruined Scarlett's heels. But, she and Rhett were both of help to everyone outside and inside.

( They're very fun. A beat. )

They're real and they're vampires.

[bennettblood]

[Erica continues to stare before spinning around to look at Shelia. She raises and eyebrow and Shelia shakes her head.]

Don't look at me, I didn't know this either.

[She smirks.]

Even at my age, you still learn something new every day.

[moralitypolice]

Scarlett would love you, Grams.

( Rhett would, too. And their son, Wes. Grams has a way of everyone liking her, taking her seriously, not underestimating her. )

[bennettblood]

[Little does she know she's already met Wes and yes, Bonnie's prediction is true. Shelia smirks before nodding.]

Let's worry about all the people we're getting together for Christmas first. Then we'll worry about getting Gone with the Wind.

[moralitypolice]

Hey, who knows. They could be there. Scarlett and Stefan are friends, and now Damon and Melanie. I bet the invitation was sent. Maybe even Wes, ( She says, turning to Isaac. They just don't know. ) They're actually in Star City right now, too. Melanie Hamilton helped you?

[bennettblood]

Yes, she did. And I did meet her nephew Wesley.

[So two of four complete.]

But I don't believe they're planning to attend our little get together, or they would have said so.

[And now that Enzo is out of the car and they're moving on to the wolf house, why not a bit of hot gossip:]

And Enzo wouldn't have had to make alternate plans.

[moralitypolice]

( She watches Enzo make his way up the drive and turns back to her grandmother. )

What kind of alternate plans?

( Back a short time and the gossip is already flowing. )

[bennettblood]

[The gossip is always the fun part. As Isaac pulls out of the driveway and heads towards the wolf house, Shelia shrugs.]

He and Miss Hamilton were making plans to meet up for New Year's. I don't know where just yet, but he seemed intrigued.

[moralitypolice]

Well, he deserves the intrigue.

( Especially with coming back. With the both of them losing out on their happy ending. )

I think Melanie could be good for him.

[bennettblood]

I'll take your word for it.

[It doesn't take them long to get to the wolf house from Damon's - fancy neighborhoods lend themselves to larger houses and they needed a big house. As they're pulling up, Sam is coming back from running some kind of errand for Carol, and he gives a small wave to Isaac and Bonnie, before heading inside, looking for Allison:

"They're back from the airport."

Erica follows him as he goes. "Is that Jackson's boyfriend or Allison's?"]

[moralitypolice]

( Bonnie waves back at him before she turns to face Erica. )

That is Allison's boyfriend, Sam. He may be the tallest person you'll ever meet. He's very sweet, a little quiet. The very opposite of his brother, who's dating my friend, Elena. You'll meet him at the Christmas party.

[yourtype]

Cool.

[Time to find out whether Derek and Isaac are right about Allison. She grabs her stuff and slides out of the car, making her way up to the front door. Pack house and she's pack so she's going to fight the urge to hesitate and just slide in the door.]

Hello. Anybody other than Sam here?

[Because she saw Sam. She's not going to pretend she didn't for the sake of a bit.]

[matriarchate]

( Erica's voice echoes throughout the house. Jackson and his boyfriend are still in their room, but Allison hears Erica from the kitchen where she offered Sam some water. )

We're in here!

[yourtype]

[Erica takes a deep breath before swinging into the kitchen and ... wow, Sam really is so tall. Even when he's kind of slouch-leaning against the counter. There's a brief glance at him before her eyes roll to Allison and she's back to being awkward again.

Isaac and Derek said it would be fine. She will trust Isaac and Derek.

She will not have flashbacks to her running her and Boyd down in a field. The nervousness is there, but she tries to pull her shield back around herself but Allison is older now, and she can probably see through the cracks in it, more so than she could as a teenager.]

Hey.

[matriarchate]

Hey, Erica. Are you thirsty?

( Her memories aren't as indelible to Allison as they are to Erica and it has been a few years. But she remembers her grief and the violence that erupted from it. She's got two glasses out, but turns when she asks back to the cabinet. )

[yourtype]

Sure.

[Whatever they've got is fine. Her eyes wander to Sam again and he gives her a wave. "Hi. I'm Sam."]

Erica.

[A beat as she frowns. If he's Sam and his brother's named Dean -]

Are you friends with the guy in the trenchcoat that just appears out of nowhere?

[Sam snorts. "Yeah, Cas. You showed up with Ellen, right?"

Erica nods.]

She's not ... looking to kill werewolves, is she? Because I think I kind of spooked her.

[Sam shakes his head. "You're fine. There was a lot happening and she knows that you guys are allies."

Erica does relax some and nods.]

Okay. Cas did seem like a nice guy, aside form the nonconsensual teleportation.

[matriarchate]

( A third glass joins the two others and she pours from the water pitcher on the counter. )

Cas is... a little strange. ( She sets the glass of water in front of Erica. ) But, he's on our side. And our side is - bigger than it once was. ( She gives Sam a quick look before moving around the counter toward Erica. ) Erica, I was never able to apologize - about what happened during our sophomore year. I don't know what Isaac told you, but, that doesn't matter. All that matters is, I say sorry for what I did.