ic contact

[coy]

"You've reached Caroline! I'm not here right now so just leave me a message after the beep! BEEP."

(  VIDEO  ||  TEXT  ||  VOICE  )

 

Comments

[coy]

Stefan... Elena and I have... had been here for months, at least. [ Her eyes lower for a second.] But Elena's gone now.

[extra_broody]

Gone? [Hold on. He needs a minute to wrap his mind around this. Furrowing his brow he runs his hand through his hair and takes a breath.]

It hasn't been months... I mean, not since I saw you. Maybe hours and Elena left after talking with Damon. You haven't been missing at all. I would've noticed if you or Elena just vanished.

[coy]

[ So the rumors are true and she looks a bit overwhelmed for a moment.] Time is... I mean I've been told that time is weird here. We've been here for months. I don't know how it's even possible How any of it is. And Elena... I guess she got sent back home. I've looked everywhere for her.

[extra_broody]

Months? But Elena is gone now -- and you're sure about that? Do you want me to come help you look?

[coy]

I've been looking for days. I mean... she would've gotten in contact with me if she were still here.

[extra_broody]

Could she have been taken?

[He's already going to start moving to... wait, he doesn't know where to go.]

Where are you?

[coy]

I don't know anyone who'd take her. I mean, Rebekah's here, but seriously? She'd probably brag about it if she did. [ Most people who kidnap people, in her vast experience want something or tell people.] Where are you? I'll come find you. [ She knows the city pretty well by now. It makes more sense.]

[extra_broody]

[Stefan isn't thinking that any of them would have kidnapped them... Rebekah hasn't even really been in town. Well, the other day when Klaus came into town...]

Hold on -- [He'll just hold out the tablet and rotate it slowly to reveal his current [insert location] location.]

Does that look familiar?

[coy]

[ Caroline's pretty sure that if Klaus was here, she'd know that too. He can't really hide his creeper crush for her. And well, there's no reason for him to kidnap Elena anymore. Still, she inspects the camera and nods--]

Yeah, yes. I know where that is. I'm coming to get you.

[extra_broody]

Then I will be staying put.

[He'll just go... sit on this bench.] So, you've been here for months?

[coy]

It's February here, apparently. I got here in November. [ She exhales and starts making her way to him. In a hurry!] Like I said, time works weird here. You said there was a party? What kind of party?

[extra_broody]

[He frowns, glancing around, then returns his attention to the video.]

That is a long time and ... I'm not going to mess anything up if I tell you about the future, am I? [Because, he's really not going to explain the subject of their recent conversation. There's no need to cause her to panic and freak out ... over that too, right?]

[coy]

You mean like Back to the Future style or something? [ She pauses for a moment because she honestly doesn't know the answer to that.] I don't know.

[extra_broody]

Well, considering I didn't realize you were missing... but now I'm here and Elena is gone...

[He hums, rubbing his jaw.] It's your call, Caroline. What's the last thing you remember from back home?

[coy]

[ She has the most unsure face ever on.] Coming home after cleaning up graduation. [ And talking to Klaus.]

[extra_broody]

... so. [He pulls his mouth into a tight line, because that's actually a lot - a lot to discuss.]

Here's the thing... [Stefan leans forward, resting his elbows to his knees as he balances the tablet in one hand.]

You - or at least the you I was talking with last night - you lived through it all. For me, it's happened for both of us. So, I can tell you, and you can have a Caroline moment and freak out over how horrible or good - depending on which part - it all is and then you can worry about it and try to figure out a plan of action, which you won't be able to do anything with...

[His hand switches the tablet to the other hand.] because you're stuck here and obviously won't remember what happened here - because, I'm pretty sure you would have told me about a weird dome-world where they put a chip in your neck and then gave you an apartment.

Or you can just come find me and we can look for Elena and I'll try to fill you in on some of the bigger things. [Like... he has a doppelganger!]

[coy]

[ Caroline keeps walking as he goes on, glancing up every so often to make sure she doesn't run into someone but really, her gaze is sort of glued to the screen, taking in every expression he makes, trying to gauge just how bad things are back home.

He's sending mixed signals.

Its true that there's nothing she can do here for whatever is going back home, however she's not a hundred percent sure that she won't remember being here, despite what she's heard. But obviously, she doesn't considering he was there and with her, back home. And it's not like she has a doppelganger, right? Not yet. But we never know. Thanks Julie.]

I guess... the second option. [ For now. ]

[extra_broody]

Okay. [He offers her a smile that's meant to be comforting, but it probably comes up a bit short and edges closer to relieved.]

So... I spent the summer in a safe. Underwater. Drowning repeatedly. That was fun.

[coy]

Stefan, what? [ Of course he delivers that news like that. ] Just... I'm almost there, okay?

[extra_broody]

[Hey, he could have led with the thought that he's Silas' doppelganger - or that Katherine died of old age. Or that college has been filled with weird underground societies...]

Alright. [He leans back and waits.]

[coy]

[ Good point. But she doesn't know all the bummers that the future holds for her, for him. And she moves as fast as she can to get to him, without vamping out of course. She finally spots him sitting on the bench--] Stefan!

[extra_broody]

[Stefan stands up, a part of him never really lost track of those sort of manners and he waves over at her before moving to meet her midway.]

Too much information too soon? [He teases, trying to lessen the stress of the actual current state of affairs.]

[coy]

[ He may stand up and wave, but he's getting a hug from her, a really tight hug.] It's just a lot to process. [ She pulls back to look at him, praying that her chip doesn't just kick in randomly.] Would it be weird to say I'm glad to see you? [ Given where they are?]

[extra_broody]

[He laughs a bit as he accepts the hug, not minding the tightness of it and reciprocating in kind.] Weird? Not really - but you're the one that hasn't seen me in months. I'm sure you're just in withdrawal.

[coy]

[ She laughs, giving is shoulder a playful push.] My Stefan-withdrawal is in full gear, it's true. I haven't had enough brooding in my life.