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  )

 

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[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.

[extra_broody]

Brooding? [He looks almost wounded by that remark.] Ouch. I'm not that bad, am I?

[coy]

[ She rolls her eyes, you know with the whole head motion, amused.] Oh, please. You know I love it. It brings balance to my life.

[extra_broody]

I'm pretty sure you maintain that balance all on your own. [She always has that slight edge of control to everything she does.] I proved my point about it being too much for you to worry about, right? I mean, I'm here. I'm safe. Well, as safe as I can be in a kidnapping scenario.

[coy]

Its not too much, Stefan. [ Pulling away from him completely, she sighs softly.] It feels less like kidnapping now, and more like a social experiment. [ Awkward pause.] With sex. But the big question is... How could you spend a whole summer stuck in a safe and me not notice? [ Or anyone for that matter.]

[extra_broody]

[He frowns and slides his hand down to take hers so they can start walking - aimlessly in some direction or another. He lifts their joined hands and pats his free hand to the clasped ones.]

Turns out, Silas - his true face, is a very familiar one. Mine.

[coy]

[ She starts them towards her apartment, she hasn't asked where his is yet but she figures hers might feel a little less foreign considering she's made it more homey. Besides, it's got food. And blood bags.

Although, she almost stops in her tracks at what Stefan says, her eyes going to his face.] Wait, what? How? I mean, I know he's really good at the whole posing as other people thing but... What? Is he like your doppelganger or something? [ It's said with a scoff and half a laugh because that would be absurd, right? ]

[extra_broody]

Oh, it's not like he's my doppelganger. He is my doppelganger. Which would be exactly how no one really noticed. He was able to compel large crowds once he'd consumed enough blood. Which he did. He was trying to track down Katherine, because Elena had forced the cure on her.

[coy]

[ Okay, that does make her stop for a moment as she looks at him, completely bewildered.] What does everyone have an evil doppelganger or something? [ Is that a thing? It feels like a thing now.] Why did he want Katherine? [ Why does everyone want Katherine? She's the worst? ]

[extra_broody]

Silas wanted to die, so he needed to cure himself of his inability to die. That meant he needed the cure, which was running through Katherine's blood.

[coy]

And he had to lock you in a safe because... why? [ She gets them moving again, her brow furrowed.] I mean, seriously? We would've given her Katherine's blood. [ Because no one likes Katherine! Or rather, Caroline doesn't like her so... everyone should hate her. She is the worst.]

[extra_broody]

[He frowns, mostly because Katherine had just died. Nadia was mourning. Damon was being ... a bit extreme in his overzealousness over her death and Stefan had given her something she had never had - a moment with her child.]

We wouldn't have given him her blood. She's human and while I can understand frustration and anger at her, none of us are innocent here and we don't just hand each other over to psychopaths. [He pauses, giving her a look of compassion.] We all have our issues with Katherine, and I'm not going to try and change your mind, but Silas having the cure wouldn't have solved any of our problems. [Technically, when he did get the cure it made their problems worse.]

[coy]

[ Ugh, Stefan. Stop reminding Caroline that she has a moral compass and that in the end, she's a good person. Can't she just pretend that she'd just be completely okay with handing over Katherine over and not just mostly okay?]

Except that he would die, right? What's wrong with Silas dying? Am I missing something?

[extra_broody]

[He breathed deeply, trying to figure out how much of everything is actually important.]

When has giving the person tormenting everyone exactly what they want - worked out for any of us?

[coy]

[ She looks at him for a moment before relenting with a sigh. Their plans ALWAYS backfire.] Okay. Good point.