london ♔ held on as tightly as you held onto me

[wynn]

WHO || Everyone and their dog THE SEQUEL 
WHAT || In the aftermath of the attack, the Knights attempt to recover (overflow log)
WHERE || Knights HQ, etc.
WHEN || Dec. 1st-8th, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

[Overflow log for the event aftermath when it inevitably breaks 5k.   Please post any new starter threads here!  And when moving threads after we hit Captcha, please try to include a link at the end of the old thread to the new thread and vice versa, for ease of backreading, if at possible. ♥   ] 

Aftermath top links (for both posts):

Wynn's return | outside the castle
Rafael Giovanni
Zero
Wynn
Operation Save Elena
Steve Rogers
Amara
Colossus Removal Squad
King Marcus Andres
Thea Queen
Dumage Moulet
Vi Reedhym
Astrid Madchen
Wanda Maximoff
Lila Zacharov-Gray
Avaleen
Kenzi Malikov
Frankie Matera
Lance Sweets
Ashley Magnus
Clark Kent
Abbie Mills
Sawyer Kelly
Nick Hawley
Lorne
Gwen Cooper
Alec McDowell
Natasha Romanoff
Groot
Matt Byrne
Alisha Daniels
Sebastian Trevethor
Doyle
Mars Dacey
Stiles Stilinski
Thoster Chatwyn
Willow Rosenberg
The Dennis-Gatewoods
Emma Swan
Skye
Sara Lance & Clint Barton
Gus Harrison
Alanna of Trebond
Deryn Argall
David Levin
Kali's Rez
Lissa's Rez
Rose's Rez
Killian's Rez
Sam Winchester
Mary Margaret Blanchard
Dante Wilder
Will Graham
Shawn Spencer
Alex Karamazov
Auric Gold
Kate Beckett
Winter Villaro
Sam looking for Dean | closed
Han Solo
Sam & Dean | closed
Myri Odair
Cora Hale
Kali
Rose Hathaway
Faye Chamberlain
Dean Winchester
Koraith & Lydia | closed
Neal & Regina | closed
Hellsing, Vi & Buffy | closed
Gold & Hasmed | closed
Desmond Descant 
Spike 
Hook 
Serafina Rez  
Sterling Archer 
Barry Allen & Felicity Smoak 
Des & Rafael | closed   
Elena Gilbert arrival  
Elena Gilbert  
Wynn & Grant | closed

Comments

[bigbad]

[He whips around.]

Elena? [He stands up and pulls her into a tight hug.]

You're back!

[doubletake]

[She hugs him back just as tightly, chuckling into his chest.]

Try not to sound so surprised.

[bigbad]

They told me you'd vanished without a trace. Bloody rude if you ask me, giving us all a scare like that.

[doubletake]

Well, any danger they told you I was in has been greatly exaggerated. I got off easy by comparison.

[She smiles up at him.]

You were missed, by the way.

[bigbad]

Of course. I assume you were all completely miserable without me brightening the place up.

[He gives her a smirk.]

It's good to be back.

[doubletake]

[Her eyebrows lift.]

Does that mean you're back for good, then?

[bigbad]

Not quite sure. But I can't imagine leaving while everything's this much of a mess.

[doubletake]

[ahahaha hahaha haaaaa

Elena's expression turns sheepish.]

Does that mean it's going to be awkward for you when I tell you that I'm leaving?

[bigbad]

...what, again? [At least she's giving warning this time.] Didn't you just get back?

[doubletake]

No one was going to stop worrying until they saw me, and calling wasn't an option, even if they would have.

[She takes out the new cell Buffy gave her, waving it back and front between two fingers before she puts it back in her clutch.]

Now it is an option, so the answer is yes. Again. Though you're being a little unfair. This last time wasn't entirely my fault.

[bigbad]

Well now it will be. Where are you going?

[doubletake]

I don't know. I haven't quite decided yet. The world is my oyster, as they say.

[Her tone is nonchalant, but some excitement is apparent in her eyes.]

[bigbad]

[Spike tilts his head, brow crinkling.]

So you're just leaving for no reason? What brought this on?

[doubletake]

The Mind Master tearing my insides out of me is what brought this on. I'm not leaving for no reason.

[bigbad]

Fine. You're leaving because you're scared. Is running away really going to make it better?

[doubletake]

[Elena visibly bristles, teeth clenching together enough that her voice comes out tightly when she has to speak through them.]

I'm not leaving because I'm scared, Spike, though a bit of fear as far as the Mind Master is concerned would probably be healthy for everyone.

[She manages to get her shit together in the next moments after that, looking away as she brushes her hair back.]

I'm leaving so that the next time we see her, we might not have the same outcome. I'm not strong enough. None of us are. But I can't get stronger just by punching a sand bag over and over.

[bigbad]

So what are you planning? Cause I hardly think a trip to Disneyland is going to make you stronger.

[doubletake]

[Her expression is difficult to read, a mixture of mild irritation and defiance.]

Actually, that's not a bad idea. I've never tried to convince someone I was a child before...

[bigbad]

Careful. [Spike tilts his head, looking into her eyes.] I know you want to be on the Mind Master's level, but trifle with too many minds and you may succeed in all the wrong ways.

[doubletake]

I'll do what I have to do, Spike. I won't let her win.

[She seems to be trying to disengage from this situation, as if it's gotten too real for her and she no longer wants to be here.]

You don't know anything about what I want.

[bigbad]

[Spike gives her a soft look, though he doesn't back down. His brutal honesty is part of his charm. "Charm."]

None of us want her to win. But I don't want you to lose yourself in trying to defeat her.

[doubletake]

And I want you to stop wondering whether or not I can handle this.

[She doesn't seem openly hostile or anything, at least. She's just had a lot of these conversations, of trying to get people to understand.]

I'm stronger than you think.

[bigbad]

It's not about how strong you are, pet. I've got plenty of faith in that. It's that I don't want you isolating yourself.

[doubletake]

I moved out of the castle months ago, Spike. This isn't that different.

[bigbad]

It's a bit different. Roommates to neighbors is a lot smaller a leap than neighbors to other side of the bloody planet.