Test Drive Meme #18

[hadrielmods]

Welcome to Hadriel's test drive, and thank you again for your interest in the game! As always, our reserves page is here, and our applications page is here! Reserves open March 25th, and apps are open April 1st. Please remember that there is an app cap of 20 apps.

Two quick points here as well:

1. Any thread made in Hadriel's test drive will be accepted as the sole Action Log sample in the application.
2. All threads made in the test drive can be considered game canon, either through handwaving or through a shared mental experience while coming through the Door!

Test drives will be broken up into specific god mini-events, during which your characters can see how well they fare under the watchful eye of one of the gods. Choose wisely or just simply pick 'em all, and have fun!

F E A R

SCENARIO ONE: THE 'P' IS SILENT
[The Door brings in all that is chaotic and evil in the world. This may include you, may include the person next to you... and may include the monster behind you.

The only warning you get is the flapping of wings above you- leathery and noisy, not unlike a herd of bats, before you are descended upon by a creature with a long, sharp beak, beady eyes, and an appetite for blood. Unfortunately, you've come across a pterobuzzard from Stephen King's The Mist.

Despite the difficult to pronounce name, a pterobuzzards' job here is actually quite simple: to eat. With their large bodies, sharp claws, and savage beak, they can rip chunks of flesh from your body and feast on various entrails after you bleed to death. So that's... fun. Maybe you should run inside, where you could totally be safe, until you realize that one of them has the strength to shatter through a window.

Underground bunker, maybe?]

L O V E

SCENARIO TWO: VERY VERY EXTRAORDINARY
[Something is different about today. From the time you wake up, to the moment you look in the mirror, to the minute you greet your usually-annoying neighbor who you sort of hate. That difference is... love? Surely not- your cold, dead heart has been... well, cold and dead for an eternity!

And yet, you find yourself forgiving your own past mistakes, overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way between you and your acceptance of yourself and just... letting it be. You're a pretty cool person, you know, and you should appreciate yourself a little more! During this event, you're damn well going to, with some self love and acceptance.

Everyone else is on your Nice list as well, though- maybe you have a friend that you've been crushing on? That's dialed up to eleven, now. Or hey, that stranger has some cute shoes and you love them so much it hurts. All's fair in love and... love.

This is a mini-version of the beginning of our upcoming All you need is love event!]

T R A N Q U I L I T Y

SCENARIO THREE: CLASS IS IN SESSION
[Breathe in, breathe out.

It's a pretty simple concept, but now that you're supposed to be focusing on your breathing, it seems like the most complicated thing in the world. How does breathing help with concentration? Are you breathing the right way? What are you supposed to be thinking about? Do these yoga pants make your butt look cute?

There's too many things to think about and clearing your mind is hard, but the good news is that you're not the only one in Tranquility's yoga class who's having troubles. There's familiar squirming and fidgeting from the people around you who are probably lack just as much chill as you and are having difficulty finding their center.

Whatever that means.

Maybe the person next to you looks just as lost as you are, or maybe their side crane pose is really on point and you want to ask for tips. Either way, whispering is allowed as you contort yourself into human pretzels, so chatter away!]

Comments

[overarching]

[ They've both considered what different people might think about Hadriel. Caroline's even wondereded how her girls would do there, but she'd rather die several times over than ever see that come to be.

She'd also rather be there, with Elena, as long as her best friend is stuck in the city too: she wouldn't want her to have to be alone, not in that place. Not as a human, and not after how the start of the two of them showing up there even went. Mystic Falls drama and strife, able to transfer over to another world. ]

To which I caught and did not tear, rip, or damage in any way. [ Caroline's grinning, glad to see this side of Elena rise up. May they forget the day the microwave defeated them.

She's going over the places she remembers seeing, about to ask Elena for more information and letting her be the one to look into the device for details. A nod. ] Sounds...intriguing, if not, possibly, improperly named. [ Sometimes she's cynical. They all have their moments! What sort of delight can be found down there? Really? If it exists, though, Caroline will find it!

Her lips press harder together, eyebrows lifting high. She can tell, at least, that Elena hasn't taken any real affront. Breathing in, chin rising and head nodding down once, she's about to start in with a reply when Elena continues. Her turn to scoff, softly, eyes rolling slightly. ] Drenched seems like a little dramatic, and when has Elena Gilbert made a bad first impression on anyone in her entire life? [ Her head turns, voice on her shoulder reminding her of when Elena's humanity was turned off. Carrying right the fuck on, then...

She waves a hand out, leaning down to gather up her bag too. ] I meant it, Elena. If you want. And, I deserved that scoff. You're fine. Lovely. Exercise makes a woman glow. [ A young woman, a teenager, but she's rolling with it since it's not like it's wrong to say. Elena's sure been through enough to reach feeling like a grown-up anyway too, right?

Taking one step, still glancing over -- ] Anyone we see will know and see how good looking we are, especially the cute ones. [ A smile as she considers that she's played this off perfectly fine. No offhanded suggestions about Elena totes needing to shower; nope, did not happen like that, at all! ] Did you see where we need to go to get there? [ Otherwise, she can get hers out. She's antsy to do so, but she doesn't. Elena is capable too! ]

[rehashing]

[ Weirder still, Hadriel isn't bad. It's unpredictable, and wasn't life back in Mystic Falls. it's dangerous. And, wasn't life back in Mystic Falls. And, confusing at times. The narrative won't bore any readers with the trifecta. It's more the cave, the gods, the uncertainty that makes this place's habitability questionable. That, and at the gods tireless efforts to produce what they actually need and coming up - in some cases, just shy of short. (Not even short, really.) ]

I think it's named after one of the gods. So, maybe purposefully named. [ Or, ironically. She hopes it's not ironically. That would be unpleasant. ]

I don't know, Caroline, we've all made bad first impressions. [ Maybe when she was a child? Maybe? Don't ask her. ]

So does pregnancy. [ it's something Elena will get over, and it's more a joke tossed off to reassure her friend she's alright with it. Even more, she's happy for Caroline. She has the family Elena knows she always wanted and for a short time (for Elena) Caroline thought she couldn't have. It's strange to think the children are Alaric's, but not because he's with Caroline, but Elena doesn't press further. Back to the Future rules, her brother might say. But, she uses his voice as an excuse, too. One she needs. That voice propped Caroline's journal under her dresser.

But, her dresser doesn't wobble anymore. ]

Maybe I exaggerated when I said I was drenched, but we figured out the shower, one of us might as well use it. [ Buttons be damned. Isn't it technically early evening? Wouldn't this be happy hour? Or is that cocktail hour? Hell, happy hour for Mystic Falls is all the time. Lose a parent, drink. Lose a friend. Drink again!

Caroline can also use it if she wants to -- wash her hair.] Your curling iron still has some power, right?

[ They're going out. And Elena feels like doing it up. Trying new things is the name of the game today. Not that curling is trying new things, but, she can never help but wonder what she's like as a vampire. If anything has inherently changed. Something as subtle as hairstyle. It's been years, Elena, your hair has probably changed. Either way, Katherine isn't here to worry about, and she thinks they should get all the use out of it they can. It's something to do, also. Scroll through the network, curl her hair. Not talk about everything between her and her best friend that she can't acknowledge because it's just a little too much. She dies. She turns. She can't turn, because of Damon, whom she admits there are feelings for, but past that, she doesn't know. She doesn't have to choose any more and maybe selfishly, that's one thing she appreciates.

Appreciates is a strong word. ]

There's a map. It's not far. Not that anything is far here. [ But that's comforting in a, if you're from Mystic Falls way. With less means of transportation. And that feeling of comfort that distorted in the past few years. ]

[overarching]

[ Caves, inescapable ones, are worse than cellars and dungeons. It's not a hospitable environment, and Caroline's circadian, vampiric as it is, rhythm feels all out of whack. She wants the rise of the sun, the glow of the moon, the stars in the sky. They don't have it, and she misses it. No natural weather patterns. She's considered how difficult it would be for a witch to be here, how unconnected with the elements they might be; how prone anyone who practices magic might be to start relying on darker, less balanced magics.

It's one of the reasons she wouldn't want Bonnie, from any year, any day, any month, any state of witchliness, being there. She's not selfish enough to ever want anyone else they know there either, Elena's presence not undesired, but she'd rather she be able to be at home too. Neither here nor there, since they're stuck in an environment she can admit isn't the worst (they live, there are moments they're both smiling and almost thriving.) One with weird gods. She can't get past that. ]

It makes me wonder if Delight named herself, like who even names gods? And if so? What an ego. [ She's not against the bar, at all! Snark about a god just freely flies out.

There's a face and start of her eyes rolling over everyone making bad first impressions. ] I can't argue that, but I still don't think it'll come up. Not today. [ Or, really at all, for Elena. This Elena. The tortured, hurt, but also kind, sweet, human Elena. Yeah, Caroline's forever stuck on how human (originally! like she remembered her to be!) her bestie is. How can she not be?

Her lips press together at that short, simple statement. ] That. I should've expected. But it's glowing at the expense of the weirdest cravings known to vampires. [ Her eyes lift high, hint of exasperation in her tone. ] And don't get me started on the neurosis, either. I thought I knew what it was like before, but nope. Caroline Forbes' mood swings actually are capable of getting worse. I did get some of it out through -- well, writing. To you. [ No matter her sincere motivations, including not pressuring Elena to read the journal, out pops Caroline's true desire for some of the entries to be read. Any barrier she ever creates with good intentions is never very thick. Even so -- ] Not the entries I'm proudest of, but I felt a little bad taking all of it out on Ric all the time. [ So she vented to one of her best friends to read in the future. How cathartic?

She knows that Elena can discern that she's happy to have a family, even how convoluted its genesis was. She's always wanted kids. Caroline, displayer of the life she craved to have. From playing out weddings (ceremony and reception) to stuffing a pillow under her shirt and pretending she was 'definitely in her third trimester.'

The scope of who's still alive, around, able to called up for afternoon chats, how different that is for her and Elena. So weird, since that's, at least, always been a constant before. She won't let the differences get her down: Caroline has conquered every problem that's ever come her way, often through smiling pride (or bitter grit, but still.)

Her lips give a little purse to the side in consideration over the shower. Then, a lift of her brows and nod over the current juice in the curling iron. ] It does. Last I checked. [ The outlets in their place truly have been testing her, and she hasn't wanted to give up! ] This morning. [ Neither of them are surprised and her own hair has some wave, but not enough to indicate having done herself up before yoga. ] And, you're right. One of us should use the shower, after that conquering the needlessly hellacious schematics of basic necessities. [ The microwave? It's important to her too, but alas. Some meals should be appreciated with more bang that being nuked, but there's also everyday life! Back to the curling iron. A grin that flourishes through her words. ] I can do your hair, too. If you want. [ Because, of course now she's wondering what style Elena may be thinking (it's impossible to not think of Katherine when considering curls on Elena's head), and she'd always offer such help. Should she mention how dead Katherine is, too? Not as if their priorities sync up with the fate of evil bitches, and it'll certainly drift into a conversation eventually. ]

Right, the map. Short distances are good. Plus. We're capable. Two capable woman who give the best of impressions, and always have. [ Upbeat Caroline, who finds sincerity in that attitude as she speaks to Elena. The yoga wasn't the greatest idea she's had of late, even with good intentions, but conversation? She appreciates it, having it, and the two of them being there for one another. Just like she appreciates being able to bump her arm over against Elena's. ] There has to be other fascinating people here, too. Out and about. I mean, if we showed up here, the possibilities are endless. [ Speaking of egos. She's not wrong, though. ] A vampire mom, and a doppelganger. [ Pause for effect!] Who else is out there, ya know?

[rehashing]

Aren't they named after what they dispel? [ From what little she's learned, Fear and Hope encourage fear and hope in the people they bring here. The same would be true of Delight, she thinks. She has no idea if the gods were to name themselves or if they were already named. Gods are worshipped, named in many cases by people. The gods all had different names in Roman and in Greek traditions. The same is true for religion, too.

Elena's grateful Caroline had the outlet, that she wasn't consumed by her neurosis and worries. She knows Caroline isn't hinting at reading the journal she brought with her, but it's always going to be there. Underneath. ] Did anything taste different? [ She knows vampires taste differently, when blood isn't involved, but would pregnancy affect that. ] Was there morning sickness? [ It's easier to focus on the pregnancy itself than the other, underlying issues between the two of them which stem squarely around their insecurities toward one another. Once they talk it out, maybe tonight, maybe with drinks, things will be aired. Or, they can be. She's not deciding that now. But, it's on the table.

Maybe not, Caroline, but you still curled your hair before exercising.

Elena wouldn't dare try and cook. People have experienced her attempts at chili. But, it gave her a purpose and it gave her and Caroline a common enemy. That they're still figuring out.

It's not if Elena would hate the idea that Katherine's died in the future. Besides helping them when it's worked to her advantage, she still spent a year terrorizing them. ]

Can you? [ She knows Caroline can, she's just confirming she'd like that. She nods, walking along, veering off in the direction of their shared home. ] In this climate, my hair's not ... [ Well, it's not as flat as she's used to, the dampness of the cave. There's more frizz than she'd like, and that's alright for yoga with her hair pulled into a pony tail, but not for meeting the locals.

Elena beams at that, smiling. This is her best friend and she couldn't be prouder. ] There's only one way to find out.

[ And that's the proactive Elena people should know and love. She's embraced her plans for the afternoon. Returning to where they live (she will not call it home, she resides there), cleaning up, doing something with her hair, and venturing back out.

Who else is out there, indeed. ]

[overarching]

[ Caroline's nose scrunches for a moment. ] Maybe. But I'm not impressed, either way. They, whatever story they're telling us, one I bet changes a lot [ oh Caroline, ye of little faith ], are what brought us here, and that's all I need to know to have an opinion about their creepy underground pantheon. [ Where's the god of snarky annoyance?! A breath draws in, realization flashing over her face. ] Which is me rambling, so, sorry, Elena. I...actually think you're completely right. We should find out more about them, too.

[ She talks, she vents, she gets out all of her words, and even with learning to filter what she says, Caroline easily slips into her unfiltered self around her girlfriends. Being separated by coma from Elena for so long? Caroline just has a lot to get out, all the time. In conversation, she falls back to what she remembers of before she found out she was pregnant, the last time that Elena was really around. It's a part of her personality that wars, or maybe civilly battles (a duel, maybe?), over her immediate reactions to everything. Her impulsive streaks have never died, she's just tamed them.

Her eyes widen. ] This will sound gross. I'm sorry. But...I had blood with...ice cream [ her features twist, because any human in their right mind will give a look of disgust to that ] at least once. What I craved tasted better, and I could tell when blood wasn't as fresh as I might have wanted it to be. Like bags that were an hour older, not usually the world's biggest deal, weren't as good. Regular food was either hit or miss: super amazing or really, like, not. [ Her lips purse to the left. ] There was. Morning sickness. Other less [ a pause, a sigh ] tame things, too. Which is what happens when you're a vampire with siphon witch babies growing inside of you. [ The latter mention includes details that are not the nicest part of the past handful of years, but it's reality. They both know their reality isn't always glowing.

There are so many other details about Elena's life that Caroline could share with her, too. Most of them, she won't. Can't. Not without proper reason. There's countless more not explored in the journal, of course, and it's...yeah she has no intentions of spilling a discourse on the life of the Gilberts (and anyone else Elena loves, cares about) to this Elena.

They've living! Existing where they reside, and that's a nice way to look at it, too. It's not easy for Caroline to admit that, but this isn't a place full of epic dorms and living accommodations. Hadriel is more temporary than any place they've ever been, and they need to keep holding onto that viewpoint, to maintain their true selves -- right? They can do that and thrive: she believes they can. One of her priorities being to watch out for Elena, since you can't thrive if you're injured at all, right? Right.

She smiles over. ] Weather and physics affects vampires too. [ Yet somehow her hair maintains the look she likes, the one she wants. It's not her fault! ] I can, and I will, and I'm already [ a rise of one shoulder ] thinking of the cutest 'do for you. It's a little amazing, but I think I know even more about hair styling now. [ With having the girls.

Her grin holds with Elena's beam: it's what she wanted to see! ] I wonder how often people really connect here. [ Up for interpretation, although she most directly means -- ] Socially. As, friends. When they're not busy running away from monsters. [ Her face turns wry a second. ] I just hope there aren't a lot of them that, turn into hermits and lock themselves up. [ She's lumping people into one big category, sure, but how many faces of interesting people have they really seen since they've been there? Other than one another. ]

[rehashing]

If we're stuck here, really stuck here, we should, Caroline. [ When the gods moved to Mystic Falls, Elena got to know them. Some, without her consent, others, because she had agency. She'd listened to Esther herself, volunteered to help, lied to Elijah about it. But, accepting their formal invitations, not running from them was necessary. Who knew Esther's peacekeeping invite was more an all out assault on her family.

Klaus came to Mystic Falls for a reason. His siblings and mother stayed for a reason. They were brought here for reason. If Elena knows anything, it's that there's always a reason.

She's used to being the reason.

Since they're not alone, she likes to think this has nothing to do with her being a living, breathing doppelgänger.

The blood with ice cream doesn't sound gross to Elena, not in this context and not coming from Caroline. She dated a vampire and she has something conflicting with another. She's no stranger to blood. ] Siphon? They stripped power? [ That's what siphoning is. She knows the verb. Wrapping her head around unborn children vacating their dying mother's body and taking the nearest 'viable' host as a Caroline had put it, is hard enough. The nature of what they were, and the magic that accompanied them hadn't been gone into great detail.

Elena smiles. Caroline knows more about styling because of her twin daughters. ]

Mystic Falls had monsters. We connected.

[ They had parties. And funerals. (Sometimes funerals that doubled as birthdays. And not just them, but everyone else. Underneath their noses, a war waged. Elena's convinced people can be friendly anywhere. ] I'm sure if they meet you, they'll have a harder time locking themselves up. [ Caroline is different. Her entire vibe is different. She's confident, friendly but not in the competitive way she remembers. She's at peace with her filler year.

What is peace to Elena Gilbert?

Elena and Caroline return to the hexagonal home, a shape she may never get used to. While Caroline decides on the outfits, Elena showers, letting her best friend take the wheel for the night. She tells herself she's not letting Caroline run the show. They both came to this decision. They agreed. But, turning her brain off and letting Caroline dress her up and do her hair might just be what she needs. And, Caroline claims her styling has gotten even better over the years. Elena believes her. Drying her hair, Elena absently checks the network, having made a habit of eavesdropping on other people's conversations. They're painfully public, and a lot like what watching TV was, except she saw these people around the cave. Normally, she'd give someone their privacy, but if there were any private moments she always moved on. They weren't for her eyes or hears to see or hear.

It's a passing mention that catches her ear.

Turning back to it, Elena's hand stills, her brow furrowing.

Emerging from the bathroom, towel wrapped around herself, Elena sets her phone down. ] Delight's closed. Or, it's gone. [ She's not sure of details, but there have been several mentions. Will Delight's be back? ] Did you hear about any other places we might be able to go?

[overarching]

[ The years Caroline has lived that Elena has not, they've been a tumult of the both of them coming to face a number of ridiculously powerful beings. As her life's gone on, Caroline would say there's been an upswing in how she's pulled in, closer, to these forces. They're not talking about it, and perhaps that's for the better lest she pour our certain details that are better left not yet said but the makeup of her days, the ones Elena has been living, were dealing almost exclusively with the madness that Klaus brought into her life. Before, in still dark but earlier days, Caroline wasn't as directly exposed to all of the most dire threats.

Life changes.

She nods. ] We should. Like they say. Keep your friends close... [ everyone knows how the saying goes, and she gives a breathy sigh with widening eyes. They need to know more, they just do. Are the gods their enemies? They can't know until they know.

Another nod, smaller, lips pressing together. ] Exactly. Siphon...ers, they strip power from anything with magic, including vampires. Obviously, they didn't know what they were doing, and really, growing up with that ability's...it's not particularly easy for them. [ Of course it's not, because everything in their lives can be summed up with the worst case scenario hitting every base and sliding into home.

Never mind how difficult it is to look at the adult siphoners she knows, how their lives panned out, how destructive they are. Each of one them, straight down from the quiet Beau all the way to Kai, all have sociopathic tendencies, some worse than others. Unbalanced, unhinged: Caroline's girls aren't there, but she'll still vow to do everything she ever can to be confident that they have a real home, with true support. As much as the two of the two girls walking had while growing up in Mystic Falls, if not more.

She smiles, faint and edging toward wry. Until she laughs, gaze casting down in a moment of soft abashment that rings with a small dose of humility, only because of who she's speaking to. ] We did connect, and, hey, we won't know until we meet them and get them dragging themselves out of the house more often, right? [ Her face lights up. ] Plus! Being stuck in a cave is no excuse for writing off parties. [ She'll host. Of course she will.

More than anything else, Caroline wants Elena to feel at ease. At peace, in the moment. Any that she can find. It's why, when they return, she makes sure that the necessary items for styling are in their proper place (they are), and then she goes to pick out suggestions for them to wear. Reverting back to the fashion of her younger years has never been a consideration, but she does want to make this specific day, that should turn into a fabulous evening, accommodating to a certain idea.

She opts for a couple of dresses, casual and too summery for a cave but that's why she picks them! Along with wanting them to match more than not, to take a step back and thrive in what she knows she can be comfortable in, even if her own wardrobe has shifted. If they're vetoed, that's what persuasion is for (no, she's set aside jeans and cute tops too, but they're hanging up and out of view in a closet. She likes the dresses, okay? They're fun. Flirty. Both of which they're allowed to be! Plus, there's equally cute sweaters to go with the dresses.)

She hears the water turn off, pondering which outfit she thinks Elena would be drawn to. Holding a pair of earrings against the fabric of one, she brings them up into her hand before letting them, ruby and gold, ones she showed up wearing, tumble down onto the dress. A frown, forehead creasing. ] I -- yeah, let me...think. [ How did she not know about this: being entangled with ensuring that Elena's okay, that's how. She needs to get on her A-game as far as listening around them, outside of her immediate priorities, goes. Especially if they really are stuck.

Her lips purse to the side, gaze inward, arms loosely crossing over each other. Looking back at Elena, she starts ] It's not the only bar. I've heard people talk about more than just one. But from what I hear, it's, was, the best, which...really makes me wanna know why it's just, gone. Like, what happened. [ It's not a question, because they're both just as in the know -- it could be dangerous to check out Delight's right now, though. The idea flashes through her eyes, not hidden, but she blinks it away. ] Let's...bar hop, at least in the strictest sense, until we find one that has enough people there to make it worthwhile to stay. That way, we'll see even more. And... [ A long beat. ] maybe we'll find out about what happened. To Delight's.

[ She gives a slight smile, looking over to the dresses she laid out on the bed. ] So... [ that obvious implication presented, she looks back to Elena to get her sincere reaction about them. ]

[rehashing]

Caroline, we don't know if they're our enemies. [ Yes, they took them, or brought them, it's still unclear, vague and doesn't sit well with Elena. But, one of the gods names is Hope. Delight. Tranquility. Unless these are ironic names, it's possible the gods are in no more control than they are. Outside forces are everywhere.

Originals aren't unstoppable. ] It doesn't sound like they know how the Door works any more than we do. They could've brought us under better circumstances, but, maybe they can't control where we all wake up. Or, why. [ She's justifying, she is, but she's not wallowing. They decided. Today is yoga. Today is different. ] We shouldn't assume anything.

[ She listens to other people, she asks questions, when it's polite to. But, Elena has always been a girl of her own impressions. Tell her all you want about someone, but she'll decide what she thinks. And maybe, that decision will evolve. Elena Gilbert can be fickle when it comes to what she sees in people. ]

Are they [ She hesitates, she doesn't want to ask Caroline if her daughters are dangerous. But, she dated Tyler Lockwood. A werewolf whose bite was fatal to her. Caroline's no stranger to danger. ] they're not dangerous to you now? [ After she gave birth? No matter the year, the age, if time has passed between them, Elena worries for her friends. ]

I think you wrote that in my yearbook Freshman year. [ Teasing. Something along those lines. No reason to shirk a good party.

While Caroline racks her brain and rambles, Elena takes a few steps over to the dresses Caroline put out, presumably as options for her, she thinks. Normally, she'd opt for something darker, the red v, and the belted patterned dress both say something, but in the spirit of the day, she picks up the pink dress, holding it up to her and looking to Caroline as if to ask, 'What do you think?' ] With the necklace?

[ She's since lost the one Stefan gave her, Rebekah's, she's reminded and the one necklace that came with her doesn't match. But, the one Caroline picked does. Shocker. ]

If anything, we can get a better idea of what's out there. [ And maybe drink. This cave doesn't seem like it has a strict drinking age. Setting the dress down, she moves over to the hexagonal drawer to pull out undergarments. Is it weird that she's used to not having a choice with where they go? It was always the Grill. Or, Tyler's. Before that summer. Before Stefan.

She reminds herself Stefan didn't do anything. She's the doppelgänger. Stefan was there to help protect her. And Damon. And Caroline. And Bonnie. She misses her other best friend. She stops herself from asking about Bonnie beyond the mention of someone named Enzo.

Walking back into the bathroom, she only closes it enough so she can put on her underwear, leaving the door ajar so she can hear Caroline. ] Bar hopping will be a new experience.

[ For Elena, anyway. Caroline tried to drag everyone out Freshman year, with fake ID's hot off the press. If Elena went, Matt would've followed, even Bonnie, but three of them opted to take the safe root. ]

[overarching]

[ Elena goes on before Caroline speaks, though she casts a look of derision over. Aimed at the situation, not the other girl. ] You're right, again, but that doesn't mean it's easy to not assume. [ A sigh. ] They don't care if I'm making all of them the scapegoat for this anyway. Or...I doubt they do. Or even can. [ Her eyes roll. One ought to be careful around gods though, huh?

She and Elena, their views on this work to balance the unknown. Caroline is quick to judge, to assume, to be at the ready to employ a string of words to criminalize those in suspect. Some aspects of her personality have evolved, but constant is her judgment for those who bring or suggest harm to her friends and loved ones.

For every judgment call she makes, she knows that Elena's there with a clearer head. It's hardly a surprise: Elena's always allowed herself to see all of the good sides of someone that nestle among the bad. Caroline may know there's good in everyone, but that doesn't mean she doesn't make snap judgments when necessary.

Glancing over when she hears the care Elena takes with her words, her brows pop, head moving to shake before she stops it. ] They're...not dangerous. We don't know everything about their type of magic, and they're strong. Really strong. Sometimes when their tempers flare, they'll lash out, but they're just kids. They need instruction. Ric and I, we've, been trying to give them help with what we know. But, we'll find someone else to help, too. They don't want to hurt anyone. They don't, either, not really. [ A lot of words, but there's an area where Caroline isn't completely confident. She can't be, not when her kids are part of the picture: but, her and Alaric will find a way to help the girls.

A chuckle at that, nodding. ] Do you remember how many hearts I drew next to it? Or smiley faces. Both?

[ Of course it matches: this isn't amateur hour! Head tilting, she moves closer to Elena, reaching out to pull the dress the tiniest bit out and to the side in front of her friend. ] It'd be perfect on you. Both of them would be.

[ Glancing over to the dresses and their accessories again, fingers run along pink fabric while Elena moves about the room. She knows it wouldn't be as comfortable, as easy, to be in that room if it wasn't that she was able to share it with one of her best friends. ] Exactly. [ Oh, they'll be drinking, if Elena wants to partake in that, anyway: Caroline would never force her to drink (or, older Caroline wouldn't do peer pressure...has she before? Probably.)

Details about Bonnie would include ones about Jeremy, which would be...the world's worst transition into a night of fun. When it comes to their other best friend though, Caroline wouldn't hesitate to give details: it's part of the girl code. You can't not answer questions about friends in this situation.

She's already assessed that she doesn't need a shower (sorry that she didn't break a sweat and forced you to work through a yoga class, Elena), but she does take these moments to take off the workout clothes, change her underwear and pull the darker of the two dresses to herself.

Holding onto it, she says, voice slightly louder to make sure she's heard -- ] The pink will make your hair stand out, really well. [ And she pauses long enough to get a reply to that before she starts to slip the garment on, reaching for the belt, holding it around her waist without fastening it, glancing down and deciding whether or not she wants to include it.

It stays. ] You can drink however much you want, too, I mean. I'll be there for you. [ This isn't a pub crawl, Caroline; Elena's mature, but she hasn't lived through the college years yet. ] I think you'll have fun, too, not being restricted to just, you know, the Grill. [ Which is probably what Elena was getting at with that comment. ] Instead of the one place, we might have...oh, I dunno. Three? [ She laughs. ]

[rehashing]

[ Elena doesn't think someone who is responsible for something would be a scapegoat, but she's right in thinking there's no proof the gods did this. Specifically this, bringing them both here. The power it took must be vast, but chaotic considering their differing points in Elena's life.

Elena doesn't have trouble separating the Alaric's she knows. The Alaric Esther brought forward sits in the forefront of her mind, but knowing something was done, that he survived and had children and raised those children with Caroline. Elena manages. She's an understanding person. Freaking out wouldn't help Caroline or her. ] You'll find someone. [ When she gets back. And when Elena does. How that even works. ]

I remember you wrote it in pink, and you drew a heart in place of the word love, but you also added hearts at the end. Also exclamation points, and probably a smiley face in there somewhere. Or, your exclamation points made a smiley face. [ Yes, that's it. It's just like it was yesterday. ]

Because that's what I need, [ She replies, emerging in a simple black bra and panty set. ] More people looking at my hair. [ Then, Caroline did say she'd do it. And Elena can do it. She just.. hasn't. Her hair's not cooperating lately. Maybe one of the gods has seen a straightener before.

Caroline, they drank other places. Stefan and Damon's. Your house. Her house. ... The graveyard.

Slipping the dress off the hanger, she unzips the back, stepping into it, putting it on. She manages to get the zipper up most of the way before she turns back to Caroline. ] Thanks for the permission, but I don't think here's a place I should go overboard, vampire best friend or not. [ Not when this is about meeting new people. ] I'd like to go as long as I can without vampire blood in my system. One day was enough. [ Her fingers find the metal pendant of her necklace that hangs low, fingers moving to smooth her skirt. She looks to Caroline in the mirror. ] Unless you mean that you could prop me up as we stumble home, then, if it comes to that, I fully accept the offer. [ Not we, her. But, she says we. Because it used to be 'we.' Not that she ever went overboard. One or two cups at the falls. A shot here or there. She's never been the lush. ] You said Meredith Fell had Damon's blood. [ She doesn't discuss things in the future, even in the immediate future, but this comes up naturally, and she finds her curiosity piqued. In small doses, she accepts small truths. ] How did she get it?

[ She knows the last thing she wanted to be was a vampire. She also knows that injury she sustained was worse than she'd been told, worse than they'd all been told. ]

[overarching]

[ Whatever's to blame for how they, others, are brought there, it must thrive on chaos. Needs it? Caroline doesn't know, but it's not the first time they'll endure a situation (a threat) and learn about it as they go. All of the details of anything plaguing them have rarely, if ever, been presented to them on a platter.

Every time another aspect of just how far back Elena is from rises up, the effect Caroline feels is nothing short of emotional whiplash. Through this, she perseveres, yet there are countless reminders of how different everything used to be. Of how much they've all been through. Alaric enduring what he did at the hands of Esther, she doesn't imagine that could ever be removed entirely from his mind, his being, but more recent stints of madness have certainly overshadowed that past reality, at least for Caroline.

Contemplating the ins and outs of emotional baggage that others, who aren't even there, may feel isn't a good use of anyone's time, though. Not that Caroline is doing so, in the exact way she could in terms of what Elena might be thinking of these different Alarics: because Elena's considerate nature blends into what she chooses to do, to say.

Can Caroline admit that she's seriously happy that this is the version of Elena she gets to spend time with again?

She gives a quick nod. ] I know. We will. The longer we're part of the world of vampires and witches and -- [ a shrug ] too much else to name, we learn more. Imagine that. [ A spread of a smile. ] There's networks. This one, Ric's been involved with a lot lately. The Armory. It's like [ she sighs, half rolling her eyes ] obscenely perfect for him; an organization that collects magical artifacts and stuff. [ Talking about the facts of the situation instead of feelings, that's easier. ] We'll find someone, maybe someones to help with the girls.

Those smiley faces were one of the best parts of my signatures, thank you very much. [ She laughs, spirits high: it's a fond memory, and she really can remember signing her friend's yearbook just like that. ] Don't forget about the I's being dotted with hearts, too. Unless I stopped doing that by then. [ Her head cants in a brief nod to the side: they both know she hadn't stopped by then.

Dressed already, her brows lift when Elena's voice draws closer as she moves out of the bathroom. Her nose scrunches. ] Once I get done with you, that attitude will be long gone. [ She means it!

As Elena's dress goes on, Caroline looks herself over in the mirror, smoothing fabric down, sizing up whether she's completely happy with it: turns out she is, at least enough. The dresses are sweet, simple, and she's glad she picked them.

Her eyes try to catch Elena's, forehead creasing at the tone she thinks is present with those initial words. The expression grows, brows furrowing more deeply when vampire blood is brought up, and she moves up behind Elena to zip the dress up the rest of the way.

A step away, lips pressing together and brows lifting very high. Then, that question about Meredith, which makes the expression hold, eyes casting to the side for a moment. ] That is what I meant, for the record. So I'm glad you accept. [ As if she's going to randomly offer blood after that one day of panic. Caroline turns, moving over to a nightstand, picking up her phone for an idle second. ] She took it from him [ a look over her shoulder before she turns back around -- memories of Meredith aren't the brightest; not because of the doctor herself, but because of what happened with Caroline's dad. Alaric. Elena. ] -- vervained him, from what I heard. [ She heard about it eventually, anyway. ] I wasn't there, and...I wasn't, completely getting along with him then. So, I didn't ask. Then. Which you know. The not getting along. So, I didn't really need to say so, did I? [ A nervous laugh. ]

I mean, you know what he was, or is, like. [ A blink. Sheesh. Talk about awkwardness in timelines. No one wants a full discourse on the growth of Damon Salvatore, do they? Her eyes widen as she casts a look to the floor.

Then, she's smiling again, head tilting. ] You always look nice with curls -- what do you think? [ Change of subject? Or simply rolling with the multiple levels of the conversation. Naturally. It's not like Elena can't keep asking some of the more difficult questions as they go. Caroline knows that when Elena needs or wants to ask anything at all, that she will; neither of them are shy. ]