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[martyric]

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text « un: prius

[unforgivably]

( Texting may not have been all the rage when Elena is from, with their flip and early gen iPhones, but it's usually what Damon prefers, especially professionally. He doesn't know if he trusts himself if he's on the phone and Elena can speak to him directly. Text seems safest.

He'd check in, but what's too much. She can afford her own things. It's been polite run-ins and careful conversations for days. He can't give her what he wants to. He also can't give her nearly anything. He's a sub. The most he can offer her is a job.

He even second guesses what he thought was a clever nickname. Luckily, she'll see his avatar and if she taps it, it's clearly attached to Damon Salvatore. )

Nothing too scandalous happened to you, did it? Those dreams I told you about once? Everyone has them here.

( "I was naked. You would've loved it."

Balancing between who he was and who he is is a tightrope act that's hard to maintain. She must assume he's evolved in some way, but if he's too different, what would she think?

His thought process involves her as his friend. He needs her close, no matter in what capacity. That's why he reaches out. )

We're friends, right?

[martyric]

( the damon thing is...complicated. not nearly as complicated as it could be, not that she knows that, but enough that there's definitely seeds of confusion being merrily sown every time she interacts with him. which is a lot, go figure, but elena doesn't actually begrudge him that much. if there's anything she understands, it's the kneejerk need to make sure your friends are safe.

at any rate, she almost ignores the message. not to be a dick, she just doesn't recognise the name and strangers sliding into the DMs really isn't her style, but she clicks through a little more and oh. damon. prius? )

don't worry, i'm not going to have a breakdown every time i see something phallic. anyway, no scandals. the creepy sex city has been remarkably normal, so far.

( touch wood )

i think we've earned friends by now Damon, yes. why?

[unforgivably]

( he should really have changed it to something else. something that he found to be witty before seems innocuous at best and pointless at worst. plus, it gives her a piece to one of his puzzles here in this city.

He may be drinking as he sends these. )

Good. Tell me if anyone does unnerve you, I can have them banned from the bar.

Because you and me, we've been through a lot. I've done my fair share of things I regret doing. More recently for you. I should apologize, Elena, for taking away your choice in being a vampire. For trying.

[martyric]

oh, the power i wield now.

( elena worries about damon, probably more than she should. he's an immortal vampire that's been keeping himself safe for far longer than elena has been around, but still. she worries. especially when he does things like this.

elena didn't think she needed to hear him say it ( figuratively of course ) until the words are in front of her, and it unknots something inside of her that she hadn't even known was twisted. )

i'm not mad about it. just...don't let it happen again. please. i don't want that life for me, you know that. but we're fine, okay? and thank you, for apologizing.

are you alright?

[unforgivably]

( it's a lot of power. subversion's really popular, Elena. )

Am I alright. I'm drinking. Not sure any of us are 'alright' here. Some actually are. You didn't ask about some. You asked about me.

I found more bourbon.

[martyric]

oh okay, that makes sense.

( elena has come across a bourbon soaked damon a fair few times now, and it's never really added up to anything good. that might not be the case now, of course, but...

she's cautious, all the same. definitely concerned. intervention banners at the ready. )

what's going on, do you want to talk about it?

text | phil connors

[unforgivably]

Fine. Let's talk contracts. But, at the house. You're going to own it, after all.

[martyric]

Thank you.
I can come over now, if you're ready?

[unforgivably]

I'm letting Hope spread her wings, so I actually gave myself the day off. I promise to even put on pants.

[martyric]

don't go crazy now, heavens forbid you take two days off.

okay, i'm on my way then. need anything?

[unforgivably]

In a row. 😱

No, not a thing. Do you, the human who might be hungry or thirsty, need a thing?

[martyric]

no.
maybe a coffee.
anyway i'll be there soon.

( true to her word she is, arriving at the beach house about as quickly as could be expected. not that she's been impatient to have this conversation or anything, it's just that...well.

it's exactly that. but she's trying not to be pushy, believe it or not.

she expects a smart comment about the house becoming hers, but knocks on the door anyway. frankly it would feel far too weird to just let herself in, and at any rate it gives everyone a minute to compose themselves. or it gives elena minute – damon, she suspects, has heard her coming a mile off. but she's smiling by the time the door opens, even if it's a little wry. )

Two days off in a row? The world might come to an end. Imagine if you went on vacation.

un; j.kline

[praecipuus]

I meant to contact you after Halloween, but there always seems to be something happening here.

It's Jack. From the Halloween party. I wanted to see how you were settling in.

[martyric]

if it's any consolation i've done exactly the same thing.
i'm starting to see how this place gets.

it's, you know. going as well as it can in this place i think. not really my speed but it's not like there's another choice.
how are you finding it?

[praecipuus]

I think it becomes a break from our own realities in a way.

Truthfully I don't know how many people would find this place to actually be "their speed".

[ It's why it's a break from everything almost. Different. ]

Part of my family is here. I think that I'm one of the lucky ones. It could be a lot worse.

[martyric]

yeah, that definitely helps, doesn't it.

my friend left. best friend, actually. probably something to do with the absenteeism.

everyone keeps saying they go back home, but is that true?

[praecipuus]

I'm sorry. That must be really hard. Despite what this place entails I don't know what I'd do if my fathers left somehow.

I don't think I actually know for certain. I've not had that happen to me. I heard they return to the moment they were taken. I've never seen it for certain though.

[martyric]

it's fine, it could be worse. i still have people here, and you know home is probably better.

...but it kind of sucks a little bit.

i want to think that's what happens, but it's stressing me out a little, i guess. it just all seems a bit...suspect. i don't know. i hope she's home.

un: klaus

[illtemper]

Elena.

Damon appears to be unreachable. I expect we need to speak.

[martyric]

( there's a long space between the message and her response, time spent making increasingly frantic calls, and then physically looking when that didn't work. long enough to be borderline unreasonable by the time she actually sends something back. )

there could be another reason.

( there really couldn't )

[illtemper]

I don't believe I gave a reason, but since you've no doubt already realized what it is.

You're his Dominant, are you not? Are his belongings still at home?

[martyric]

that doesn't necessarily mean that he's gone.
it's not been that long, there could be an explanation still.

[illtemper]

Not when the device will not connect at all, from what I understand.

While I imagine this must difficult for you [ Be nice. Don't just say get over it. ] we need to speak about Subversion. If he is gone, our role will need to be more active.

[martyric]

if.

( not that she actually believes that, but saying otherwise feels like giving up. can you stubbornly will something into being true? )

it's something i had thought about, a little. i don't want the bar to fail without damon.

Gift!

[guylining]

All of Nate’s gifts are delivered via a fluttering origami bird, which flies directly to the recipient and puts the gift into their hands. Once it’s given, the bird will unfold into a note, which explains what the charm inside will do, and how to activate it. When the note has been read, it will explode into a miniature display of multi-coloured fireworks, which spell out “Yuletide wishes from Nate!” and then vanish.

Elena receives a pair of earrings, white diamonds. One is enchanted to give her a boost of speed when she turns it clockwise; turn anti-clockwise to turn off. The other is always active, and surrounds Elena with a magical shield when she’s in danger. On Christmas Eve, the Theatre will also be full of homemade Yuletide food and drink, for everyone who works there to enjoy.