'cause you know I'm coming home

[mistyday]

Somehow, at this point, a magic doorway leading to yet another world doesn't surprise her at all. As soon as she sees the sun and the waves and the green where her quarters should be, she doesn't hesitate to step through. It's not just the warm draw of nature either, so refreshing after the cold darkness of space - there's something else drawing her as well. Or rather, someone else. She follows that sense down the beach, through the town, and to another door.

Knock, knock.

And there she stands on his front step, beaming. "Hey, stranger."

Comments

[stefanged]

No way. The room had already seemed tailor-made for his soulmate, but the addition of original vinyl Bon Jovi albums seals the deal. This place really was lifted from their minds - and it really did want to be their new home.

"Holy shit," he says, rushing over to inspect it. "It's exactly like I remember..."

Which is a little weird, because it's technically Salvatore's memories and not Alesci's, but he's rolling with it.

"You know I was actually his guitarist for a hot minute?"

[mistyday]

"You're shittin' me!" She exclaims, staring at him in disbelief. When it becomes clear he's not lying, she gives him a gentle, friendly wack on his arm. "Why didn't you tell me before!?"

[stefanged]

"Because I didn't remember," he says, with far more amusement than he rightfully should have. "Funny thing about this place: it fixed all of my memory problems."

It didn't exactly fix his identity issues, but he's starting to find himself and to walk the path between Salvatore and Alesci. He is both, and he is neither - and it only took him three years to figure it out.

[mistyday]

"That's good then! See, I knew we'd find a better place some day!" She puts the record back on the shelf and grins at him. "Anything else you remembered that I oughtta know?"

[stefanged]

Good question. Off the top of his head, Misty knows everything relevant. Salvatore had been a godless heathen, he'd rocked out with Bon Jovi, and he was an immortal vampire from the 1860's.

"I know a thing or two about a witch's grimoire," he says, after a moment. "If you ever wanna learn how to keep one, I mean."

[mistyday]

Her brow furrows in confusion. "A witch's what?" Her magical education, what little she had, never really quite got to that point.

[stefanged]

"Grimoire. It's like your cookbook - a collection of spells unique to you, and a symbol of your power." He mimics turning the pages of a book. "I knew a family that had one for every witch, and they looked pretty useful."

[mistyday]

"Oh that'd be so cool! I never had a spellbook of my own! Miss Cordelia had one of course but I didn't get to study it much ever."

[stefanged]

"Then let's get you one today." Stefan figures there's a stationary store around here, or at least a bookstore that carries nicer blank notebooks. Itinere doesn't feel like a place that cares about financial transactions, and well? If it does? He could always compel them to barter.

"I didn't keep one myself, but I think it could be helpful. After all, you remember stuff the more you write it down."

[mistyday]

She could write down all the stuff Vision taught her too. It'd be a nice way to remember him. Even if he's not a witch, he still taught her a lot. More than maybe actual witches did.

"Good excuse to show me the town too! I just sort of... was called right here. Didn't really look at anything else."

[stefanged]

"Well, we can't have that," he teases, raising an eyebrow in amusement. Without another word, he turns back towards his room, fully intent on picking up his messenger bag and shoes.

"I haven't seen much of the town myself, so it'll be good for both of us."

[mistyday]

Misty cheerfully follows him. "How long have you been here, anyway? It's only been like... a day since you left, for me."

[stefanged]

“It's been a few weeks,” he admits, slinging his messenger bag across his shoulder. “Time seems to work weird here too, but that's nothing new.”

[mistyday]

"Yeah that seems to be a theme in these kinda places. At least here there ain't a bunch of weird aliens watching us on tv."

[stefanged]

"Did we ever find out if we actually had an audience?" Stefan shakes his head, laughing a little. "I'm not sure I want to know, but... I'll take a beach resort over that, any day of the week."

[mistyday]

"Hell yeah!" Misty exclaims. "I wonder if we can get anyone else from the fleet?"

[stefanged]

"Maybe." Stefan hasn't given it much thought before, but if this place could summon Misty, it could potentially summon whoever the heck it wanted. "It brought you here, so... I can't say I can rule it out anymore."

[mistyday]

"Who'd you want to see come?" she asks as she follows him out the door. She can think of a whole bunch of people she wants to see again, though maybe she shouldn't be getting her hopes up.

[stefanged]

"Sorey." Stefan doesn't have to think twice. He hums thoughtfully, "I miss that kid already. But if he has to come, he's gotta come with Mikleo - I don't think I've ever seen them apart."

(He says, having actually seen them apart for pretty decent periods of time.)

"What about you?"

[mistyday]

"Maglor. He loves the ocean so much, I think he'd like it here.

And well... I don't think he's got much to go back to at home. He's all alone there. At least here he'd have people who love him."

[stefanged]

“He's told you about his home?” Stefan glances over with genuine surprise. “I don't know much myself, but... yeah, he would be happy here. I know in some world, he gets reincarnated and becomes my godfather. But that's... that's not guaranteed, you know?”

Even if he and Maglor aren't on the greatest of terms, Stefan wishes the entire world for him. After all, some version had helped raise him.

[mistyday]

"He only told me a little bit," she hedges. That's not her story to tell and... She doesn't want to ruin Stefan's view of Maglor. It's honestly a truth she struggles with all the time. "Most of his family is gone."

[stefanged]

Understanding washes over him. This isn't something to pry - and Stefan can respect that.

"He'll get a son," Stefan says quietly, managing a faint smile. "Liam. Cocky brat, but... overall a good kid. And a wife who loves him more than I thought humanly possible, and - well, my parents are his best friends."

There's hope for Maglor, in some universe, even if he doesn't end up here in this resort town.

[mistyday]

"Oh, I'm glad! He'd be such a good daddy! Probably spoil 'em rotten though."

[stefanged]

“I did just say his kid's cocky,” Stefan says with a laugh. “Pretty sure he's well loved.”

And a little too spoiled, though he leaves that unsaid.