paradisalost | (no subject)

[As soon as Morgana stands down by clenching her fist and banishing the magical energy she'd been summoning, he does the same, although he still eyes her warily. Is she really the Morgana of Arthurian legend? If so, then he's no match for her. But thankfully it would appear he doesn't have to test that theory.

She's probably right, he's no better. The things he's done have destroyed lives, no matter his good intentions.

At least Lana seems to understand, although perhaps she doesn't quite get that while Wes thinks Damon is a monster, it doesn't mean he believes he's irredeemable. Angel and Spike have both proven that it's possible to turn one's vampiric life around. But Damon isn't ready for that. Not until he holds himself accountable, faces what he has done and seeks to atone for it. That has to start with an admission of guilt and expression of genuine remorse for his actions.

Instead Damon sought to blame someone else, to hide his crimes and remove anyone who might expose them. Perhaps the most disappointing thing of all is how unapologetic he's been, throwing what he did in Wes' face rather than acknowledging the harm he's done. He'd trusted him. He'd liked him, and now he feels like such a fool.

Wes is so deep into his own thoughts for and regrets for a moment that when he realises what Lana is about to do it's far too late to stop her. He lunges forward to force her gun down, his own urgent cry of 'No!' mingling with Morgana's.

But the shot has already been fired. Damon slumps down. Is he dead? This isn't what he'd wanted!

Searing flames erupt close to them both and Wes realises what's happening. He turns his attention to Morgana, grabbing at her arms and trying to pull her off balance. To jolt her out of her hysteria.]

Stop!

[ lana immediately ducks at morgana's scream, feeling the flames nearby enough to make her hold her breath in fear. she's sorry she didn't have time to warn morgana, but time is not something she has a lot of. she takes advantage of the hysteria for both watcher and witch, quickly swapping out the gun cartridge so that she can shoot and fire twice more at the chains, morgana's scream and the roar of the flame enough to distract from it at first.

she gives a quick yank so that the chains give the rest of the way. she doesn't know how much that hurt him, and how much of it was acting. but she hopes it hurt. it was the least he deserved, after everything he'd done. and still she was doing this. why?

when wesley goes to try to pull morgana off balance, and the fire dies, lana ducks back down again to damon's pliant form now on the ground, whispering in his ear ]

This won't work if you don't go. Now. Suck it up and pull out some super speed.

Don't make me regret this.

[ if he could pull it off in the few moments that they weren't looking, it could be easy for lana to claim the body had disappeared. that was what they did, wasn't it? they disappeared? and the lana would be forced to deal with both of them.

but she could do this, if only he could pull some of the weight, no matter what pain he was in ]

Don’t touch me.

Get out, both of you. You what you wanted, you have no reason to remain.

[Morgana's wrath is terrible to behold but he's faced down worse. He feels a pang of frustated anger at the situation himself. How dare she think she knew his intentions?]

Don't just assume that I wanted for Damon to die.

[He snapped back at her, his own temper fraying a little. He flicked a hard glance at Lana too, still unsure of her motives.]

I doubt either of you will believe me, but I had planned to release him eventually, once I had the confession and some kind of guarantee that he would stop with his attacks and victimising of others. Perhaps it would have been too much to expect. But I had to try.

Is he dead?

[The fact that Damon hasn't vanished in a cloud of dust doesn't mean that he isn't. Clearly other vampire breeds are different many aspects, perhaps even the final death. Of course, in this case, Damon will likely return in a fortnight and then perhaps no-one Wes counts as friend will be safe.

He moves to check on Damon.]

[ she's unsure at first, not moving when morgana tells her to. damon was either doing a very good job of playing dead, or lana had actually hit his heart. quietly, just under her breath, she tries not to panic ]

Damon?

[ then wesley speaks, and she looks up, more startled than she means to be. damon's chance to run off was blown, but... if morgana wants them gone, maybe it will still work out. she doesn't mind her finding out he's still alive.

if he's still alive. he has to be. she can't have honestly just murdered someone who was chained up. lana can't have crossed that line ]

...Of course he's dead. Who knows when your eventually would have been, Wesley. You wouldn't have ever gotten a guarantee from him. You were wasting your time and drawing out inhumane torture. That's not better.

[ pulling herself off of damon, she stands up and backs away, shooting a regretful glance morgana's way. she doesn't want wesley to spend too long making sure damon's dead ]

Even if he comes back, at least you can use the next two weeks to re-prioritize yourself. Right now we need to go. There's nothing that can be done now.

Just leave. Please.

[Wes honestly can't tell. And even if Damon's only badly hurt, would it make any difference? He's failed to achieve what he set out to, and now he has alienated more people. He lets out a resigned sigh and drops his hands, standing back up again and moving to follow Lana out. Morgana seems determined to tend to the body and he doubts she'll want any kind of assistance from him.

As he walks back along the tunnel with Lana, Wes passes a weary hand over his eyes.]

This doesn't change anything. Killing him will simply give him two weeks time out and then he'll return and we'll be back where we started.

[ she gives morgana a last look before walking out with wesley, re-holstering her gun and slipping it back into her purse. she doesn't say anything at first, because he's right. at least, if she actually killed him.

she is still hoping she didn't. if so, wesley's fears are null. she hopes. she hopes that damon won't make her regret this ]

Then we'll start differently. You can't keep him all to yourself. Everyone else he hurt has a right in saying what happens to him.

Of course, everybody thinks he's gone home now. I have a feeling his brother isn't going to be happy, not to mention anyone else he has wrapped around his finger. How do you plan on handling that?

I had thought that the truth would be sufficient to keep those who know Damon from forming a rabid lynch mob.

[He says it dryly, not at all under the illusion that he would have had an easy time of it.]

But perhaps I was being too optimistic. I am not without friends myself. But I don't want this to become a feud if I can help it. I shall have to think on how I will deal with it. At least I have some protection from their mind-powers.

[He pulls out the silver chain from around his neck and shows her the vervain-infused pendant]

I trust that you do too?

[ she looks away while touching the bracelet around her wrist. to admit damon gave it to her might seem insane ]

I put it in my coffee every morning. I can't believe you actually thought he was compelling me. Do you think I'm an idiot?

Was I implying that you were? Lilah is certainly no idiot. Illyria is a Demon-God-king but still she couldn't identify him as her attacker.

[He shakes his head, stowing the necklace away again.]

Damon may not be subtle in some ways, but his powers are not trivial and he clearly is an adept at using compulsion to get what he wants and conceal the truth. You may have been compelled at one time and not even remember it. To trust him in certain situations. Or to help or protect him if he needs it. Willow can magically test for it if you ever decide that you want to know for certain if you mind has been tampered with.

I don't know Lilah or Illyria [ having seen lilah twice really didn't equate to knowing ] but you told me about vervain. Did you think I wouldn't listen?

[ she purses her lips in irritation. feeling like she's being lectured, like she was too stupid to know any better, only makes her feel defensive. before they reach the opening of the cave, she stops and turns to face him ]

I know exactly what Damon is, Wesley! He's never even tried being nice to me in all the time we've known each other. He's never hesitated to threaten me, to try to scare me, or make a fool of me!

But he saved my life. From his brother, who is the one you should really be careful of. Anybody with brain can see Damon is bad news. But Stefan is the one who will lure you in with tales of redemption and sweet promises.

I saved him from your torture because he saved me from dying. That's the only reason. Don't think I would ever let any man make a fool out of me ever again!

[ of course poor wesley would have no idea what she's talking about, but she doesn't care. she's at her wit's end, still unsure of what it is she's done here, and with that she's turning to stalk out of the tunnel's exit and over to her horse that's tied up next to morgana's.

she climbs on, looking down at him ]

I know you had good intentions. But think of the people around you next time you go on a vengeance spree.

[ and with a kick, she's urging her horse off into a gallop. you can find your own ride back to the castle, bro ]

[Wesley watches her go, his expression rueful and conflicted. Is that what it had been? A vengeance spree? He'd removed a dangerous criminal from society. Ended an escalating series of attacks on innocent people. Freed Lilah from her enslaved mind and stopped her from being victimised further. He'd done the community a favour. Or so he had told himself.

But the victory had rung hollow. And now, is it even that? He hasn't managed to get Damon to sign a confession and now he has at least two people (besides Lilah and Damon) who know what he has done in the name of just revenge. It's only a matter of time before word gets out. Will there be a retaliation from Damon's supporters? Only time will tell. He needs to decide what to tell his own friends.

Wes begins the long trudge back to town, his head bowed and his thoughts troubled.]

[ When he can hear their voices fading in the distance, a croaked noise comes from Damon's lips and he gasps back to life. His eyes open and he begins to cough, grunting and whining in pain as he tries to move but finds himself incapable. A human mummy, that's what he's been reduced to. And it was fucking Wesley. He reaches his hand out to grip Morgana's knee, because all he can do is move it that far, and his grip is noticeably weak. ]

Help me.

You...

[ There's a weak, grunted breath as she hits him, and it's followed by a weak chuckle. ]

Yeah, I know. Yell at me later. [ He tries to budge and it's evident in the way his body shifts, but he doesn't get anywhere. Fuck. ]

I will, you scared me.

Can you walk at all?

[ He grimaces as he's pulled to his feet, stiff and aching joints screaming as they try to budge, but he does manage to do some hobbling while leaning most of his weight on her. ]

A little. How far is the castle?

Too far to walk the entire way.

[ He makes a grunting noise at that, still hobbling along towards the exit of the cave. ] Great. Stranded and -- [ he turns his head to spit out blood. fuck vervain. ] Deader than usual.

I do have a horse tied up outside, we're not completely stranded.

Oh, good. Horseback riding. [ He doesn't sound enthused. ] I haven't done that in ... a century. Should be like riding a bike, right? [ He lets a tired but amused look touch on his blood-caked, dried lips. ] Thanks.

If you wish, we can hobble along at this snail's pace instead. You caused me a great deal of trouble and I am still fairly angry.

...But you are welcome.

You weren't supposed to have to get involved. I had it under control until -- [ he coughs a little, grimacing. ] I can't believe she shot me.

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