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Tweak says, "I see you."

Alaric Saltzman (selfloathing) wrote in wariscoming,
@ 2014-09-27 19:16:00

Entry tags:

alaric saltzman, damon salvatore, elena gilbert

WHO: Alaric Salztman, Damon Salvatore, Elena Gilbert
WHAT: Tears and Bourbon. A whole lot of bourbon
WHEN: Shortly after Ric's network post, Friday September 27
WHERE: The Roadhouse
WARNINGS: TBA, probably language and talk of death and violence

Alaric Saltzman sat on the stool contemplating the glass of bourbon in front of him. No matter how bizarre the events of the last several hours had been, one thing remained the same. Ric liked his bourbon, especially when he had a lot on his mind. The events of the past several hours weighed on him heavily. Ric was glad to not be sucked into oblivion or wherever it was those left on the Other Side ended up when in fully collapsed, but whether he was happy to alive? The jury was still out on that one. He felt guilty as hell for all the things he'd done and the fact that he'd made it out while Damon and Bonnie got stuck on The Other Side only made it worse. Elena's pain at the loss was obvious. So was Jeremy's and Ric couldn't help feeling like it was all his fault.

He hadn't been back in the real world for very long at all when he suddenly found himself standing in the middle of a Kansas graveyard. It was obvious right away that this wasn't Mystic Falls and it didn't take him very long to discover he was in the city of Lawrence. It also didn't take him long to find the nearest bar. If there was ever a situation that called for a drink, this was the one. After he was settled on a stool with a drink in front of him, Ric pulled out his phone and connected to the network. It didn't take him long to find some kind of message board and when he threw up a post, he quickly received replies from several people he knew. Some of them were people who shouldn't even be alive and he was grateful to Caroline for warning him about that. It meant he could dial back his reaction to seeing Damon's comment a few minutes later.

Hearing Jenna was here, alive just gave him more reason to beat himself up, though. No matter what Elena said, Ric didn't think there was any way Jenna could possibly forgive what he was or what he'd done. He was a monster. He'd done a lot of monstrous things. And Elena had become a vampire because of him. Because Rebekah had tried to kill her to stop him. He'd had a long time to mull over all the horrible deeds he'd done in his life. Even if some of it had been the result of Esther's manipulation, he was still responsible. The idea that Jenna could... no. Maybe it was good that she hadn't said hello, yet. Maybe it was better for her if she stayed as far away from him as she could get.

These were among the throughout coursing through his mind as he tossed back the glass of bourbon and ordered another. Damon was on the way, which made for a good excuse to just keep drinking, if you asked him.

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someonehasto
2014-09-28 01:28 am UTC (link)

If Damon was honest, he'd been hoping Ric would turn up, eventually. Especially after Elena had told him what had happened at home. He'd had a big part in getting his drinking buddy resurrected, and he couldn't help but feel pleased about that. Even if it did cost his own life. But then, he never had been one to put stock in the price of his own life. The people he cared about were worth more. I mean, yeah he'd killed Ric in a tantrum before. But, that was because he knew that the ring would bring him back. And, well. He apologised for that eventually.

But, now his best friend was here, and from the same point as Elena. And, they were both alive. Well, undead. Same thing. He couldn't help but be happy about that. He knew that it was probably a shock for Ric. Seeing him on the boards like that. But, he'd taken it better than Elena had. She'd pretty much decided that someone was playing a joke on her, until others had convinced her otherwise. But then, he was still suffering from the heart break of their break up at that point. The seal really did have a cruel sense of humour sometimes.

They'd parked the Camaro down the road from The Roadhouse, and Damon grabbed Elena's hand briefly. Squeezing it, before letting it go. The only sign of the emotional turmoil happening under the surface. And, with that. He pushed open the door to see his buddy sat at the bar. And, he couldn't help but grin at the familiar sight. Different bar. But, familiar all the same.

Damon, crossed the room quickly. Catching the attention of the blonde behind the bar, mouthing the word "bottle" at her, and then clapping his hand on Alaric's shoulder in greeting.

"Hello, brother."

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youliedtome
2014-09-28 06:21 pm UTC (link)

Elena could tell that Damon was nervous about seeing Ric again, so she made sure to squeeze his hand back before getting out of his sky blue Camaro. She didn't say anything, although she wanted to, as they walked down the street to The Roadhouse. Damon needed to deal with this in his own way, just like she felt all her own emotions about Ric being here. The main one was, without doubt, relief and happiness, although his presence was also a painful reminder of what had happened at home - what she would go back to if she ever left this place. She wished she could squeeze Damon's hand all over again at that thought.

The sight of Ric at the bar was enough to make a big grin break out across Elena's face. While she let Damon take the lead, she was close behind him, sliding up to the bar on the other side of her former guardian and reaching out to lightly rest her small hand on his arm. "Hey, Ric," she said, softly but happily. She knew Ric's head must be all over the place at the moment, like hers had been when she'd arrived, but she hoped he would be able to take this in his stride, just like everything else he'd been forced to go through.

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selfloathing
2014-10-12 05:24 pm UTC (link)

There was a part of Alaric that was happy to be alive again, but those feelings were mixed. He was back in the land of the living, but that didn't change the fact that he was a vampire. An enhanced original vampire. He hadn't existed in that state for long before his death, but he'd still done some pretty terrible things. Everyone else seemed ready to just blame his psychotic alter ego for that, but not him. He took responsibility, even if he hadn't exactly been in control. On top of that, there were the cravings and coming to terms with the fact that he actually was a vampire. It was something he'd never wanted for himself and now he found himself thrust into completely different surroundings.

It was all a lot to deal with, but when he saw Damon walk into the bar, followed quickly by Elena, Ric couldn't help the broad grin that stretched across his face. He turned at the sound of Damon's voice and the hand on his shoulder and pulled him a fierce hug. After losing Damon on the Other Side, words just couldn't describe how happy he was to see him.

"Hey, guys," he said when he stepped back a moment later.

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someonehasto
2014-10-23 09:05 am UTC (link)

Damon was happier than he had been the last time he'd seen Ric. This time, the world wasn't ending. Other dead supernaturals weren't running around trying to kill people he liked. Which was situation that pretty much always sucked. Admittedly, the only good thing about dead supernaturals being able to be present in Mystic Falls back then, had been the presence of Alaric and Jeremy.

But, this time the time with his formerly dead best friend was not as limited. But, expressing the way that made him feel with anyone but Elena, was not something Damon tended to do. Even with his Best Friend. Like apologising. But, what he could do was return the hug Ric gave him, just a fiercely. It really was good to see him.

Damon grinned at Jo as she deposited the bottle of bourbon and a couple more glasses on the bar in front of them with a wry twist of her mouth. He suspected the native hunter was not happy at her current clientele. Which just amused him more, to be honest.

"This calls for a celebration." Damon declared, grabbing the bottle and gesturing with it. "It's good to be alive." he said, pouring whisky for them all.

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youliedtome
2014-11-21 05:20 pm UTC (link)

Elena waited for Damon to let go of Ric before wrapping her own arm around the man's broad, strong shoulder and leaning in to press her cheek against him.

"We've missed you," she murmured. When Jenna had died, Elena had felt lost - Ric had filled the gap in her life and been there for her through so much. It was better than she could express to have him back.

Settling on her bar stool, Elena reached out for the glass of bourbon Damon had poured her. She didn't really like the drink - not compared to Damon or Ric, anyway - but it seemed right to be drinking it right now.

((OOC: Sorry, guys! I completely forgot about this. The notif must have got lost.))

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selfloathing
2014-11-26 01:01 am UTC (link)

Seeing Damon here in the flesh did a lot of ease some of Ric's guilt over being the one to make it through to the land of the living. It hurt enough, knowing Damon had likely been gone forever, but watching Elena grieve made it even worse. He was supposed to take care of her and by going first, by not forcing Damon to go ahead of him, he had failed her.

Here they both were, though. Alive - well, undead - and happy. Ric couldn't really ask for much more than that.

He tipped his glass toward both of theirs and even managed a pretty convincing grin. "To being alive," he agreed. Technically, none of them were, but they were here and they were together and that was something to celebrate.

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someonehasto
2014-11-27 12:55 pm UTC (link)

Damon's eyes narrowed. He knew his buddy too well, the grin wasn't quite real. But, he decided now was not the time to dwell on it. All of his favourite people were here in Lawrence, and it really was cause to celebrate. Well, most of them. they were just missing Little Gilbert and Enzo. And, he supposed the quarterback coming back wouldn't be the end of the world.

Damon downed the glass of bourbon before putting his arm around Elena, pulling her against his side and kissing her on top of her head.

"I really am glad you're here, buddy." He said to Ric with a serious smile.

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youliedtome
2014-12-16 12:24 pm UTC (link)

Elena glanced from Ric to Damon. She thought that Damon had also picked up on the fact that Ric was thinking about things other than what thoughts he was actually voicing. Still, Damon didn't say anything and Elena was glad - now wasn't the time. She was actually rather impressed by Damon's display of tact!

She let herself be pulled against Damon's side, unable to resist grinning. Still, she looked up at Ric as Damon pressed his lips to the top of her head. If she knew Ric at all - and she did - he had been feeling guilty about being the one to come back from the Other Side while Damon had been stuck there, waiting for it to collapse around him and suck him into nothingness. But Elena wanted to let Ric know, wordlessly, just with the love and warmth in her eyes, that she had forgiven him, if there even was anything to forgive. She had Damon here and, while she knew it might be transitory, they had been given the opportunity to steal a few extra months. It wasn't forever - they couldn't think of it as forever with the Seal hanging over their heads - but it was more than Elena had ever hoped to get. She just hoped Ric was able to seize the opportunity like she had.

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