oo1 ♞ video.

[compulsions]

[That may or may not be a very faint bruise across the bridge of his nose. Elena's arm swing is a little stronger than it used to be and apparently he bruises now which is perfect.]

So how's being in the real world working out for everyone? Scale of zero to zero.

Remember, don't hurt yourselves with those brand new toys.

[Especially you, Elena.]

Comments

video;

[sainted]

She's not anything to me. [The response is automatic, with a sharp enough snap in it to belie any pretense that he doesn't care anymore. This is not good. He should've given himself more time before replying, more time to collect himself, but all he feels is anger over being here and annoyance over Alaric's company and a sudden rising panic as he wonders where Klaus is.

Stefan's finger brushes over the button to cut the call, but it's already too late. This conversation is public. Running out now would say more than staying and bantering pointlessly, so he forces himself to get a grip and change the subject.]

Did you read the pamphlets?

video;

[compulsions]

Seriously? Didn't we move past this I'm-a-bloodthirsty-dick-with-no-humanity phase, brother?

[Don't tell him they're back at that because Damon's gonna throw Stefan to the ground again. Possibly on top of something sharp and wooden.]

No, I just threw them away immediately so I've got no clue what's going on. Of course I read them. What about it?

video; → private audio;

[sainted]

[Stefan's mouth tightens. Damon can see through him better than anyone, but it's exactly for that reason that he shouldn't be so casually poking at him where anyone can see. But his brother doesn't seem even a little concerned about Klaus, and if the possibility occurred to Stefan, it sure as hell would've occurred to his brother too.

Figures Damon would fight hard to help him only when Stefan doesn't want him to.]

Shut up, Damon. I'm not in the mood.

[The connection cuts; Stefan in a fit of pique. But a call goes to Damon's phone a second later, direct and private.]

What the hell are you doing? We just got here, and if you, Elena and Caroline are all together then there's a chance Klaus might have come with me too. I don't know if you noticed, but there's even less places to hide her then there are in Chicago!

private audio;

[compulsions]

[Not in the mood. When is Stefan ever in the mood? His baby brother's got the sense of humor of a bent stop sign.

Damon rolls his eyes when Stefan hangs up like he's actually seventeen. It should be typical Stefan behavior and it is, but Damon can tell something's off, too. Stefan is talking like he's still trying to push Damon away. Mentioning Chicago. What? They're not exactly buddies, but they've been in this Klaus-killing-turned-Klaus-saving moderation-exercising thing for some time now. Stefan should know better than to keep pretending he doesn't care. He's already admitted to saving Damon's life (again.) Damon knows he still loves Elena. (Stefan doesn't know or won't believe Elena loves him just the same because Stefan is an idiot.) What's the point?

He considers ignoring the call when the phone rings, but he doesn't. Somehow, Stefan manages to say something that makes even less sense.]

What's wrong with me? [Can they just stop and pause over the irony of that statement for a second?] What's wrong with you? Klaus is dead. And we should be, too, except apparently we aren't.

private audio;

[sainted]

[Stefan falls silent when Damon uses two words in impossible conjunction with each other. It startles him enough that he doesn't even bother trying to make sense of what comes after it.]

What do you mean, "dead"? How can he be dead? He's the hybrid now, you can't...

[Okay, stop. Breathe. Think. Stefan is just starting to get an inkling of the confusion Alaric felt while talking to Damon earlier.]

Klaus isn't dead. Not as far as I know. [Another pause, but a shorter one this time.] Damon, the last thing I remember is seeing you and Elena at Gloria's bar.

private audio;

[compulsions]

Well, then, clearly you don't know very far.

[It's a snap response that belies how much this is throwing him, too. First Rick, now Stefan. Seriously? Did everyone here just got dropped on their heads on their way over?

Gloria's bar. That was months ago. What is this, more compulsion? Stefan's been taking vervain, but Damon's got first hand experience in how you can bleed that stuff out of someone. But why just those memories? Actually, better question: who would even bother? Rebekah and Elijah are the only two Originals left in town.]

We've moved a long way from Chicago, Stefan. Several bodies, two white oak stakes, and one mommy original long.