( He'd like to stick by his sister's side if she's like this, not that he blames her for being in this state. It's a lot for him, too. He nods, getting up and finishing the last of his drink. )
Let's go down memory lane.
( He quickly shoots a text to tell Erica they're doing just that. Hesitates, and then lets Damon know they're taking a walk, too. He doesn't feel beholden to him. But he also doesn't need him worrying. )
Damon receives the text, but his brother doesn't know that. He catches sight of the two children wandering out the door and he doesn't stop them. It is Mystic Falls, and Mystic Falls is a lot safer than it used to be. Still, better safe than sorry. Stefan slips out behind them, just to keep an eye.
For all that this should be memory lane, it both is and isn't at the same time. She gets turned around a couple times - not because she's drunk but because the landmarks just aren't the same. Different people moved into different houses with different lawn decor, but eventually they find themselves standing in front of the Gilbert house.
Or what should be the Gilbert house.
Elena hasn't sold it. The remains of the house were torn down - safety reasons - so in it's place is just an empty plot of land between two houses, where a house should be. Maybe one day she planned to rebuild it, when she had reason and that reason hadn't come yet.
Stephanie stares at the blank space where her house should be, and her shoulders slump.]
I think part of me was hoping that she didn't burn it down here.
( it's the latest of many sobering reminders this isn't the home they know and loved - sometimes loathed. small town. but they were lucky for all the while. )
We knew she burned it down. We just... didn't know she never had it rebuilt. Here.
( because she didn't have reason to. or the money. )
She said it was one of her most painful memories. And then it wasn't.
[Stephanie stares at the empty space, trying to not feel, finally, how different these places are. It's not that she wasn't aware. Some of the changes were staring her in the face. But this really feels like a loss and she can't figure out why.
She just thought she would always be able to go home.]
If this Barry guy can't send us home, what are we going to do?
( He sighs, tearing himself away from the site, turning toward his sister. She's not going to like the answer to her question, but it's staring them right in the face. )
Decide if we want to live with dad or mom. Or, enroll in another school? We live. While hoping there are strides made that could send us back. And when that happens, we get ready.
Well, they're mom and dad. If we're actually missing, they and aunt Bonnie and aunt Caroline and everyone will rally for answers. And they won't give up. But, I -- I hope that maybe, we're still there. And here. Because, I don't want mom and dad to go through that. ( It would break dad. And he'd fall into old patterns. ) But, if they can't help us here, maybe they can find us. From there.
And we have each other. I'm not going anywhere, Steph.
I know Elena and Damon are in different places so it probably wouldn't be fair, but we should stick together literally. I know we're basically adults but ...
[She wants to know that there's someone there who knows her, for better or worse.]
[She does kind of want to see the bunker. And she does feel a little bad for Elena in that respect. But also ...]
Yeah, I'm not sure I want to be stuck in Kansas either.
[She starts to turn when she catches sight of Stefan hovering nearby and stops, before she tenses. It's still strange, seeing Stefan Salvatore in person, alive, when previously she's only seen him in pictures. As a result, it's the defensiveness that comes first.]
You know, you really shouldn't creep around after people like that.
["Vampire," Stefan points out, crossing his arms in front of him. "Kind of comes with the territory."]
( He's curious, he wants to see her life but -- at what, boring, boring cost. He sees her freeze and spot someone and so he turns in Stefan's direction. )
( He'll point out. It's weird, considering they'd never met their uncle. They'd only read journal entries and seen illustrations. A picture here or there. He'd been dead since before they were born. And now he's feeling - what - protective?
He looks back at the remains of the Gilbert household. )
Dad owns a bar off the interstate. Mom has the practice in town, but she's, like, revitalized the historical society.
( Everything is just different. )
The kids at the Salvatore School -- it's this boarding school - they wrote this musical about mom's life. And it had you and dad and aunt Caroline in it. We've seen Hope and the other kids when they come into town. ( They're not as cruel as other Mystic Falls students. ) We snuck into their one-night only performance. Real weird.
( It's the truth. They've never met Stefan. He died long before. He's aunt Caroline's dead husband and their dead uncle. And only recently did they learn he was human when he died. )
Wouldn't, not off the cuff like that. We were actually planning on keeping a lot to ourselves because what good would it really do?
( And there "dad" went and blew that. And it's not funny, dry or not. He's dead. He's dead in another universe and talking to them here. What are they supposed to do with that? )
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Let's go down memory lane.
( He quickly shoots a text to tell Erica they're doing just that. Hesitates, and then lets Damon know they're taking a walk, too. He doesn't feel beholden to him. But he also doesn't need him worrying. )
no subject
Damon receives the text, but his brother doesn't know that. He catches sight of the two children wandering out the door and he doesn't stop them. It is Mystic Falls, and Mystic Falls is a lot safer than it used to be. Still, better safe than sorry. Stefan slips out behind them, just to keep an eye.
For all that this should be memory lane, it both is and isn't at the same time. She gets turned around a couple times - not because she's drunk but because the landmarks just aren't the same. Different people moved into different houses with different lawn decor, but eventually they find themselves standing in front of the Gilbert house.
Or what should be the Gilbert house.
Elena hasn't sold it. The remains of the house were torn down - safety reasons - so in it's place is just an empty plot of land between two houses, where a house should be. Maybe one day she planned to rebuild it, when she had reason and that reason hadn't come yet.
Stephanie stares at the blank space where her house should be, and her shoulders slump.]
I think part of me was hoping that she didn't burn it down here.
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We knew she burned it down. We just... didn't know she never had it rebuilt. Here.
( because she didn't have reason to. or the money. )
She said it was one of her most painful memories. And then it wasn't.
no subject
She just thought she would always be able to go home.]
If this Barry guy can't send us home, what are we going to do?
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Decide if we want to live with dad or mom. Or, enroll in another school? We live. While hoping there are strides made that could send us back. And when that happens, we get ready.
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[A pause.]
Not this Mom and Dad. Our Mom and Dad.
[Because she can't imagine that this will go well. She can't imagine that it won't break their parents to just have no answers, no closure.]
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And we have each other. I'm not going anywhere, Steph.
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[She takes a deep breath.]
I know Elena and Damon are in different places so it probably wouldn't be fair, but we should stick together literally. I know we're basically adults but ...
[She wants to know that there's someone there who knows her, for better or worse.]
I don't want to be alone somewhere.
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( He finally turns away from the house, unable to look at it any longer. )
Also, if I have a vote, I don't want Kansas. Or, a bunker.
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Yeah, I'm not sure I want to be stuck in Kansas either.
[She starts to turn when she catches sight of Stefan hovering nearby and stops, before she tenses. It's still strange, seeing Stefan Salvatore in person, alive, when previously she's only seen him in pictures. As a result, it's the defensiveness that comes first.]
You know, you really shouldn't creep around after people like that.
["Vampire," Stefan points out, crossing his arms in front of him. "Kind of comes with the territory."]
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Uncle Stefan.
( He matches his arm crossing. )
Were you following us?
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Mystic Falls is quiet, but that doesn't always mean it's safe. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.
[Stephanie's eyes narrow. "Well, we are. Still creepy."]
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( He'll point out. It's weird, considering they'd never met their uncle. They'd only read journal entries and seen illustrations. A picture here or there. He'd been dead since before they were born. And now he's feeling - what - protective?
He looks back at the remains of the Gilbert household. )
Mom and dad had the house rebuilt.
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That makes sense. Elena loved this house.
[And she also burned it down. It's complicated, as are most things with Elena and her grief.]
She would have wanted you to grow up there.
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( Everything is just different. )
The kids at the Salvatore School -- it's this boarding school - they wrote this musical about mom's life. And it had you and dad and aunt Caroline in it. We've seen Hope and the other kids when they come into town. ( They're not as cruel as other Mystic Falls students. ) We snuck into their one-night only performance. Real weird.
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[He makes a face.]
And the musical too. Good to know Landon Kirby is consistent across all universes.
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( But seeing the house like this. What it could've been. )
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It's complicated. I don't blame you for missing what's familiar. Especially when so much here is different.
["You know that you're one of those different things, right?"
Stefan raises an eyebrow before nodding.]
My brother mentioned something about my being dead.
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Why would he tell you that?
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[Stefan tips his head to the side.]
It doesn't really bother me. Technically I've been dead for a long time.
[That's a joke. A very dry one, but he's trying to lighten the mood.]
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( And there "dad" went and blew that. And it's not funny, dry or not. He's dead. He's dead in another universe and talking to them here. What are they supposed to do with that? )
Did he tell you anything else?
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[And again, he's been dead a long time.]
I heard something about Bonnie giving me the cure, and that's how it got to Damon, but not much else.
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( And therefore, it's pointless. )
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[It is what it is at this point. They made their choices and unfortunately Gray and Stephanie will have to live with them while they're here.]
But it could help us understand you better. You don't have to keep secrets to protect my feelings.