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Entry tags:
entranceway; ic contact
"It's Stefan. Leave a message."
text | voice | video | action
"It's Stefan. Leave a message."
text | voice | video | action
Stefan. It's Elena. [ stop stating the obvious, gilbert. her voice is calm and collected, if not slightly melancholic. turmoiled, if you're paying close attention. ] You've probably noticed Damon hasn't been around. I helped Bonnie do a locator spell and he isn't in Wonderland. I know — I know it looks bad, but his things are still here, and his room is untouched. It means he'll be back. [ her words gain conviction, if only to reassure him. ]
I just thought you should know.
I just thought you should know.
[Shit. So Damon hadn't meant to leave him in the lurch after all.
He doesn't hesitate to give her a call - because, no matter how much he wants to avoid her or how much he wants to pretend the mindscape never happened, she went to the effort of calling him. That means something.]
Thanks for the heads-up. How long do you think he'll be gone?
He doesn't hesitate to give her a call - because, no matter how much he wants to avoid her or how much he wants to pretend the mindscape never happened, she went to the effort of calling him. That means something.]
Thanks for the heads-up. How long do you think he'll be gone?
[ it's harder to mask the emotion in her voice without a scripted voicemail, but at the same time, his voice fortifies her. she tugs in a breath that isn't meant to be audible. ] Bonnie and I have both been sent back home before, and we were both gone a week. That seems to be the norm.
[ there have been exceptions, but they are few and far in between. ]
[ there have been exceptions, but they are few and far in between. ]
[That doesn't seem so impossible.
Honestly, as much as this hurts him (and it does, after the hell that had been the mindscape), this hurts Elena more. They had something good between them.]
I see. [A small, awkward pause,] Do you... do you want to grab coffee or tea or something?
Honestly, as much as this hurts him (and it does, after the hell that had been the mindscape), this hurts Elena more. They had something good between them.]
I see. [A small, awkward pause,] Do you... do you want to grab coffee or tea or something?
[ it occurs to her she doesn't deserve this kindness. it also occurs to her that no one has loved damon longer or harder than stefan does, even if he can't quite remember it. she kind of wants to be around that, awkwardness be damned. they can get through awkwardness. ]
Yeah. [ a smile finally tugs on her lips. ]
Yeah, I would. Do you know where the youth center is? We have coffee and tea.
Yeah. [ a smile finally tugs on her lips. ]
Yeah, I would. Do you know where the youth center is? We have coffee and tea.
Seriously?
[ she realizes how that sounds almost immediately after she says it, and is quick to elaborate. ]
Sorry. I mean, it's Wonderland, we can get you anything. It's just — the you that was here before had a love affair with tea. [ and she thinks that was one of the flavored teas that he favored, though his pronunciation of it was different. ]
[ she realizes how that sounds almost immediately after she says it, and is quick to elaborate. ]
Sorry. I mean, it's Wonderland, we can get you anything. It's just — the you that was here before had a love affair with tea. [ and she thinks that was one of the flavored teas that he favored, though his pronunciation of it was different. ]
No kidding?
[It makes sense, logically. No matter what world he hailed from or what experiences he endured, he's still Stefan. No wonder he'd had some with Katherine.
(She must've remembered too. How else would she have known?)]
That's - uh. I wouldn't say I'm in love with the stuff, but it tasted better than I expected.
[It makes sense, logically. No matter what world he hailed from or what experiences he endured, he's still Stefan. No wonder he'd had some with Katherine.
(She must've remembered too. How else would she have known?)]
That's - uh. I wouldn't say I'm in love with the stuff, but it tasted better than I expected.
I almost never saw him without tea, honestly, so I think he has you beat there.
[ and if she sounds a little bit fond, well ... she is. alesci has a special place in her heart. the differences were considerable, and at times overwhelming, but he was still familiar to her in the ways that counted, and he gave her a kindness when she needed it most. ]
[ and if she sounds a little bit fond, well ... she is. alesci has a special place in her heart. the differences were considerable, and at times overwhelming, but he was still familiar to her in the ways that counted, and he gave her a kindness when she needed it most. ]
[ it probably was a bit of an addiction, tbf. but as far as addictions go... ]
Fourth floor, room 116. It's right across from the movie theater, you won't miss it.
Fourth floor, room 116. It's right across from the movie theater, you won't miss it.
Got it. I'll see you soon.
[Elena was right: the Youth Center's hard to miss, and as Stefan walks inside, he takes a moment to really soak in his surroundings. Despite all that he's seen and done, he's still technically a seventeen year old boy - and that guy wants to let loose.
The board games are calling his name, and so are the video games. Everything is, really.
He pulls himself together long enough to look for Elena, though. Since she suggested the place, maybe she'd be up for a round.]
[Elena was right: the Youth Center's hard to miss, and as Stefan walks inside, he takes a moment to really soak in his surroundings. Despite all that he's seen and done, he's still technically a seventeen year old boy - and that guy wants to let loose.
The board games are calling his name, and so are the video games. Everything is, really.
He pulls himself together long enough to look for Elena, though. Since she suggested the place, maybe she'd be up for a round.]
[ elena can be found in the conversation pit.
leather covers the depressed section of the flooring, creating a circle in a comfortable, far-off corner. a book is on her lap, but she's quick to close it when she spots stefan's familiar frame. she waves at him to let her presence be known. ]
What do you think?
[ when bonnie first came up with the idea, elena thought it was brilliant. they'd been missing caroline at the time, and wanted to channel her relentless productivity in the face of adversity — while also giving the younger crowd a safe space from wonderland's deception. ]
leather covers the depressed section of the flooring, creating a circle in a comfortable, far-off corner. a book is on her lap, but she's quick to close it when she spots stefan's familiar frame. she waves at him to let her presence be known. ]
What do you think?
[ when bonnie first came up with the idea, elena thought it was brilliant. they'd been missing caroline at the time, and wanted to channel her relentless productivity in the face of adversity — while also giving the younger crowd a safe space from wonderland's deception. ]
[Thank goodness, too - he wouldn't have noticed the pit right away. Stefan heads down, taking a seat beside her and taking another good look around. The lighting, the color scheme, and even the activities feel so warm. He could practically spend hours here (if not now, then definitely in the future).]
It's really nice. [He can feel the love - genuine love - as opposed to the typical artifice that surrounds Wonderland. Stefan leans back a little too.] Was this place your idea?
It's really nice. [He can feel the love - genuine love - as opposed to the typical artifice that surrounds Wonderland. Stefan leans back a little too.] Was this place your idea?
[ elena shakes her head fondly, a faint smile touching her lips. it doesn't reach her eyes, her sadness and worry somewhat inescapable, but she has decided to place it aside for the next couple of hours. it might help stefan to be distracted with something else, too. ]
No, it was Bonnie's. I just helped, though we both tried channeling Caroline.
[ when in doubt, ask yourself: what would caroline forbes do? ]
No, it was Bonnie's. I just helped, though we both tried channeling Caroline.
[ when in doubt, ask yourself: what would caroline forbes do? ]
Well, you both certainly succeeded. I'm sure she'd be proud.
[Caroline should be proud: there's a scary amount of children in Wonderland, and they're way too young to be exposed to the dangers of this memory-stealing world. Bonnie's outdone herself, and so - Stefan makes a mental note to thank her later.
He pulls one leg up under him, glancing down at her book. It's weird, honestly, thinking that just a few days ago, they were in a library full of ruin and now they're back here. Wherever "here" is.]
[Caroline should be proud: there's a scary amount of children in Wonderland, and they're way too young to be exposed to the dangers of this memory-stealing world. Bonnie's outdone herself, and so - Stefan makes a mental note to thank her later.
He pulls one leg up under him, glancing down at her book. It's weird, honestly, thinking that just a few days ago, they were in a library full of ruin and now they're back here. Wherever "here" is.]
[ elena was dumbfounded when she first stumbled upon dipper pines.
wonderland on its own is terrible enough, but to bring children into it is cruel. bonnie and elena alike have felt protective of them, and the youth center felt like a natural progression to ensuring their safety. it's charmed to protect, should an event prove dangerous.
her smile turns more genuine, placing her book on her lap. ] It feels weird to say I'm glad she's here, considering where here is, but ...
[ things weren't the same without caroline. ]
wonderland on its own is terrible enough, but to bring children into it is cruel. bonnie and elena alike have felt protective of them, and the youth center felt like a natural progression to ensuring their safety. it's charmed to protect, should an event prove dangerous.
her smile turns more genuine, placing her book on her lap. ] It feels weird to say I'm glad she's here, considering where here is, but ...
[ things weren't the same without caroline. ]
I get it. [He returns that smile.] Things are a lot easier when you've got friends with you.
[Not that he would personally know: his journals rarely spoke of friends beyond Sheila, Lexi, and Caroline. He'd drifted from town to town, never staying long enough to befriend the locals. Stefan couldn't ask his memory why: he'd think he could've had a few lasting friendships.
Maybe, he could treat Wonderland and its never-aging population as a second chance. No one would think twice anymore; as far as they were concerned, immortality came as easily as breathing.]
[Not that he would personally know: his journals rarely spoke of friends beyond Sheila, Lexi, and Caroline. He'd drifted from town to town, never staying long enough to befriend the locals. Stefan couldn't ask his memory why: he'd think he could've had a few lasting friendships.
Maybe, he could treat Wonderland and its never-aging population as a second chance. No one would think twice anymore; as far as they were concerned, immortality came as easily as breathing.]
It is easier. Wonderland is hard enough. It helps to know you're not alone.
[ that there are people around you in the same boat, looking for life vests. she lingers in their smiles before she straights in place. ]
Oh! I almost forgot. I have your chai.
[ that there are people around you in the same boat, looking for life vests. she lingers in their smiles before she straights in place. ]
Oh! I almost forgot. I have your chai.
I can't take credit for it. Wonderland makes it so that I never have to cook.
[ or prepare much of anything. ... trust us, it's a good thing.
elena leads him to a kitchenette-like area with a mini stove top, and right next to it, all the essentials: tea bags, cardamom, milk, and a few other spices for his choosing. it already smells good, ngl. ]
[ or prepare much of anything. ... trust us, it's a good thing.
elena leads him to a kitchenette-like area with a mini stove top, and right next to it, all the essentials: tea bags, cardamom, milk, and a few other spices for his choosing. it already smells good, ngl. ]
[He shoots her an amused look, because cooking really isn't that hard.
(Stefan has vague memories of SOMEONE being tragically bad in the kitchen. All this time, he kind of assumed it had been him.)
As they reach the kitchenette, he takes a second to survey the set-up. Everything's perfect, except... um....]
Elena? Where's the recipe?
(Stefan has vague memories of SOMEONE being tragically bad in the kitchen. All this time, he kind of assumed it had been him.)
As they reach the kitchenette, he takes a second to survey the set-up. Everything's perfect, except... um....]
Elena? Where's the recipe?
[ (it was totally her. elena cannot be trusted in the kitchen.) ]
... Oh.
[ pink dusts across her cheeks sheepishly. ]
I knew I was forgetting something. [ she lifts up her finger in a be right back! kind of way, disappearing into one of the closets. when she returns, she brings a book that contains various tea recipes, including his beloved chai. which... she forgot only alesci could do from memory. ]
... Oh.
[ pink dusts across her cheeks sheepishly. ]
I knew I was forgetting something. [ she lifts up her finger in a be right back! kind of way, disappearing into one of the closets. when she returns, she brings a book that contains various tea recipes, including his beloved chai. which... she forgot only alesci could do from memory. ]
[At this point, Stefan's assuming that old-him (the non-amnesiac one) must've loved chai, for both Elena and Katherine to associate these fragrant spices with him. Whether it's right or wrong, he's not sure.
As he takes the book and flips it open, right to the page for masala chai, he sees the prim and proper method, as well as an easier, less-rigid style.
He'll opt for the former, so he holds it out and reaches for a saucepan.]
Okay, it says to simmer the milk and pour the spices in. [In the milk goes, then the ginger, the cardamom, nutmeg, a couple of cinnamon sticks, and finally, a pinch of saffron. Despite his memory loss - and the sheer fact that he isn't Alesci - his movements are swift and practiced. Maybe Tessa hadn't scrambled up as much as he'd thought.]
As he takes the book and flips it open, right to the page for masala chai, he sees the prim and proper method, as well as an easier, less-rigid style.
He'll opt for the former, so he holds it out and reaches for a saucepan.]
Okay, it says to simmer the milk and pour the spices in. [In the milk goes, then the ginger, the cardamom, nutmeg, a couple of cinnamon sticks, and finally, a pinch of saffron. Despite his memory loss - and the sheer fact that he isn't Alesci - his movements are swift and practiced. Maybe Tessa hadn't scrambled up as much as he'd thought.]
[ it's soothing.
elena can't count how many times she'd sit and watch stefan work his magic in the kitchen. now it's just soothing, and she focuses on that instead of the sadness. as he gets to work, elena is just going to slyly reach for a cinnamon stick to chew on. ]
I didn't realize there were so many steps.
[ she's clearly been drinking tea wrong. ]
elena can't count how many times she'd sit and watch stefan work his magic in the kitchen. now it's just soothing, and she focuses on that instead of the sadness. as he gets to work, elena is just going to slyly reach for a cinnamon stick to chew on. ]
I didn't realize there were so many steps.
[ she's clearly been drinking tea wrong. ]
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