but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[moralitypolice]

( "He can try," Damon says, but, doesn't object. "Ric, call Maxwell, bring a truck." And Damon ends that call. And then Lindsay asks a very pertinent question. Damon looks at everyone when Liv's phone lights up again. )

For god's sake, answer it.

[geminated]

Oh, am I in control of my phone now? Thanks for your permission.

[Liv rolls her eyes before answering, not looking at the caller ID.]

Ric?

[daydrinker]

What am I doing with Cade's blade?

( That he is still in possession of? )

[geminated]

Can you drop it off at the sheriff's station on your way to the belltower?

[It's kind of on the way right. Or at least on the way to Maxwell's.]

Or on your way to meet Maxwell. Whichever is more convenient.

[A beat.]

Also maybe don't mention it to my sister that we're gonna try and kill the Devil today?

[daydrinker]

As long as there's a guarantee there's no Cade between here and there.

( He wraps it back up in a cloth and sticks it into his shoulder bag. )

You want me to hide from my wife that -- ( not the time. ) She's with the girls, anyway. Coming right to you.

[geminated]

See you in a bit.

[And with that she will hang up and take a deep breath, before looking at Lindsay.]

Do you have somewhere I can set up for the spellwork?

[Lindsay nods. "Probably better to do it upstairs. I don't know what kind of wards whoever built this place put in here." There's a chance it's not designed just to hold vampires. That being said, she looks over at Caroline, who is the one who doesn't have a job. "Someone has to stay here with him. Do you mind?"

Caroline shakes her head. "As long as I'm not needed somewhere else, I can stay."

"Thank you." Lindsay then takes a breath before looking over at Beck. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Privately. Away from the ears of everyone else.]

[telegraphs]

( "I'm going with Liv," Bonnie says. "Damon, you meet Alaric out front."

Beck susses out all the small town drama and coming from a family of many siblings, kind of loves all it beyond the almost-apocalypse their trying to stop.

He lets his charge move them away from the sad vampire, his vampire friend, the snarky vampire and the two witches who take no shit. Tyler lingers closer to Caroline, in case Stefan does... anything. )

What is it?

[patrols]

[She pauses, just to make sure they're far enough away to muffle at least some of the conversation and her face shifts, just slightly. It's one thing to have the bravado out there, where she's trying to convince people she can help, but she also knows how this works.

She knows that this is the kind of thing where Slayers could die. And Beck hasn't been her Watcher for that long. They're still finding their rhythm and they haven't really had the chance to.

Would be a shame if this is all they'll get, because there's something about him that tugs at her in a way she can't quite pin down, but right now, she needs to focus.]

It's a solid enough plan but there's always a chance it'll go bad so if it does there's some stuff you need to know.

[telegraphs]

What other stuff? Linds... you're worried this is all going to go sideways?

( He slips, using an informal version of her name, but puts on his watcher hat, frowning. )

[patrols]

I'm a Slayer. I'm always worried it's going to go sideways.

[When you're joining a storied tradition of women fighting the forces of darkness until they die so the next one can be called, you can't help but be aware of the fact that one day you're not going to win. Lindsay is pragmatic by default so while she will reach for the win no matter what, she knows eventually luck isn't going to be on her side.]

Buffy has all of the contact info for my family, but she is also my medical proxy. I got that all legally done a long time ago. If they show up and try to wrangle medical care away from her, tell them to shove it. I do have both a final will and a living will on file. All of the info for that is in the locked top drawer of the desk in my apartment. The key is in a little chest on top of the desk.

[Looks like a random pirate decoration, actually has treasure in it.

She feels bad, dumping all of this on him all at once.]

I know this is a lot, and I'm sorry. If we had more time to settle I probably would have done this ahead of time, but ... things don't always work out that way, I guess.

[telegraphs]

Lindsey.

(She rattles off all of her final documents, her will, her needs. He's not ready for any of it. He was never trained in what's left behind.

But, they have a job to do for the moment. )

There's a key in the chest.

( And Buffy is medical proxy. He just accepts. )

Do me a favor. Don't make me use the emergency key.

[patrols]

Not planning on it.

[Really. She intends to leave this still kicking. But being prepared usually means you won't have to need it. But instead of leaving on that note, she lingers briefly.]

For what it's worth? It hasn't been so bad, having you as a Watcher. If this all works out, maybe we could keep that going.

[telegraphs]

( He doesn't move away from her, gaze lingering. It threatens to lower, but he maintains his professionalism with something he does have to thank her for. )

Wasn't looking to make a personnel change. Heard I got a pretty generous eval.

[patrols]

[She catches that glance, and her smile stretches. No, not right now. But maybe they could definitely explore that later.]

Stay safe. See you when I'm back.

[And with that she will head up stairs to test Liv's spell. She steps into the room, starting to shed the heavier parts of her uniform so that she can move easy and light.]

Alright. Let's do this.

[Liv gestures for her to sit on the chair in front of her. "Sit. Bonnie, can you sense her right now?" Just to make sure they have a baseline.]

[moralitypolice]

( Everyone back in the same place again, Bonnie approaches Lindsey, closing her eyes. Her (18) has her indeed sensing her presence completely. There is something with it, love, loss, and the stench of death that follows every slayer. And a nice coating of ash on the end. )

I can.

[geminated]

[Liv's hands shake slightly as she takes a breath, but the nerves hit her more than she'd expect. They're going to try and kill the Devil, after all. So even as the spell that she's been working on for weeks starts to gather in her fingers, she feels it start to slip and it falls apart before she can even get it started (6).]

Shit.

[The word hisses out of her and she takes a breath before shaking out her hands and stepping away to gather herself.]

I'll try again. Give me a sec.

[moralitypolice]

It's okay. Take your time.

( She tries not to think of Stefan down the hall or downstairs in a cell. She focuses on the problem in front of her. This spell. This devil.

Damon handles the knife hand-off to Alaric who managed to wrangle Peter Maxwell, his truck, and the bell. )

[geminated]

[Liv takes another deep breath, steadying herself and lifting her hands around Lindsay's head again. This time the spell comes easier (19), and she's able to seal off Lindsay's thoughts, hopefully from Bonnie and double hopefully from Cade.

She glances up at Bonnie raising an eyebrow.]

Good?

[moralitypolice]

( Bonnie, confident, closes her eyes again and even a (19) can't... )

Good. I get nothing. Which probably means you're off Cade's radio frequency. What's next?

( "Next," Damon says, rejoining the group. "you, me, and the slayiff take a hike up the Falls. See if we can't tune into his frequency."

[patrols]

["Do you want me to cloak you before or after you get to the Falls?"

Lindsay tips her head to the side.]

Do it now. In the car. That way they don't accidentally leave me behind but Cade doesn't see me more than he has to.

[unforgivably]

You are our ace in the hole. We're not leaving you behind.

( Damon hands her the wrapped dagger, holding it out.

"I agree. Car," Bonnie says. "Liv, check in with Alaric, make sure the bell is up before we go. We get one shot at this." )

[patrols]

[Liv nods as she follows them out to the car.

Lindsay takes the dagger from him, unwrapping it as they walk to get a better look.]

Nasty.

[She smirks.]

I kinda like it.

[Once she settles in the back seat, Liv quickly casts the cloaking spell on her, before pulling back to call Ric.]

[unforgivably]

Stick it to him good.

( Damon visibly remembers the cloaking Gemini spell and he's still not ready for her to disappear from the backseat. But, he can drive.

Alaric picks up the phone, hits the speaker button and is clearly heard maneuvering atop the bell tower. Probably finishing bell installation. "Bell Atlantic." )

[geminated]

Are you ready to go?

[Because that the important thing. How much longer until they can move from waiting into action.]

[daydrinker]

Yes, two of us of a more... advanced ( hah ) age were able to install the bell. Tell us when you want it rung.

( He nods to Peter Maxwell, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Right on, Ric," Damon says.

"Let's go," Bonnie says next, Damon turning on the ignition. )

Go kill the Devil.