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[ as promised, damon finds gale there, his notebook and papers splayed atop a table in front of the flickering fireplace. even in the summer, the nights are cool here.

at the sound of footsteps, he looks up from his spot on the sofa. unable to keep himself from looking a little long, knowing what he does of damon’s changed state. ]

—Oh, chiefly to avoid the hellspawn. [ unserious, obviously, though he almost seems to blink back to himself before he adds, ] I like the quiet.

[ when the main library is always aflutter with activity. ]

And the view. It reminds me of my tower.

[ of home. ]

[ hellspawn gets an almost-smirk, a rueful quirk of the lips—the hustle and bustle of this place could put mystic falls to shame—and damon crosses his arms, leaning against a conveniently-placed bookshelf. ]

Well, I won't disturb your quiet too long, then. Just wanted to say thanks for the effort.

[ even if it didn't work, it means something that gale tried. damon isn't used to sincere displays of emotion, but he knows how to put one on: eyebrows drawn up, eyes wide and hang-dog, eye contact, the whole deal.

of course, he's about to follow it up with another request for help. but hey, that's being a witch for you—always cleaning up supernatural messes. ]

Edited 2025-06-04 02:38 (UTC)

Ah — [ he drags a hand over his beard, scratching at his jaw. it’s kind of damon to bother, when he failed. when stefan felt the need to resort to something drastic to prevent a terrible loss. ]

I suppose you’re welcome, though I’m sorry to have failed you so. Not quite the wizard I once was.

[ but that seems a self-indulgent sorrow, so he attempts a recovery. ]

Are you — that is to say — circumstances being what they are, are you all right?

No, [ bluntly honest, shrugging disaffectedly, ] but that's not your problem.

[ it's stefan's. ]

The only cure in my world? I didn't even know it existed until Stefan told me about it. You didn't fail. It was inevitable.

[ which is all true—gale was never going to be able to cure the bite, or save damon from its effects. his life just doesn't work like that. he had to try, for as long as he could, but damon didn't expect it to work.

but... ] There is something new I could use a wi—zard for, [ probably calling the guy you're asking for help the wrong thing isn't a great idea, ] if you're up for it. This one isn't as inevitably doomed as a cure for a werewolf bite.

[ it’s hard not to argue. nothing should be inevitable to the once chosen of mystra. the forbidden magics of time travel. the heights of power only accessible to the select few, exalted above the rest. a prodigy. a genius. a champion.

but he supposes none of that has been the case for some time, now. he wilts, as he considers this, only to perk up as damon suggests hope for redemption — for being of use. ]

I’d be glad to direct my mind toward a solvable problem. [ a beat. ] Please go on.

[ jesus christ, where was gale all those times they could have used a witch in mystic falls? bonnie and emily and bree, all powerful and righteous and not anywhere near as eager to help as this one man who's known them for less than a month. there's a voice in his head (suspiciously feminine, disapproving, throaty) admonishing him not to take advantage—

but damon hasn't gotten this far in his life by passing over advantages when they fall into his lap. ]

There's a catch to this, [ he gestures to himself, stepping away from the bookcase and toward gale, ] or really, a whole bunch of catches, but one's a little more pressing than the rest.

[ it's never easy to reveal a vulnerability, but damon takes a deep breath in, breathes out through his nose, feels how it feels his lungs and how his heart thuds against his chest. vital, steady, vulnerably human. ]

If a vampire drinks enough of my blood, they'll take the cure and become human. I, meanwhile, will start to age on fast-forward, to match the age I should be.

I'm 170 years old, Gale.

Gosh.

[ brows hiked, eyes a tick wider, more surprised by the brutal consequence than his age — when astarion and armand and spike are older creatures, still. ]

You mean to suggest the greatest threat to you now, beyond the typical dangers of mortality, would be another vampire.

[ he picks up a pen, scribbles a note or two, already thinking. ]

I wonder, then, if it’s a cure at all — or merely a suspended state — it seems a rather deadly game of pass the parcel, otherwise.

[ when one could transfer the cure from one vampire to another endlessly. ]

[ gale casts vicious mockery using the word "gosh". it's a critical hit and damon takes 8 points of psychic damage. ]

Yeah, [ he says slowly, recovering from the effect of a grown-ass man saying gosh in complete earnest, ] something like that.

[ looks like gale's already picking at the problem. given how little damon knows, he probably won't be of any more help—oh, nooo, an excuse not to participate in witch bullshit... what a disappointment..... ]

I couldn't tell you. I can't tell you anything other than that, honestly, I threw Stefan out before he could explain more than the basics. If you have any more questions, he'd be the one to ask. Oh, and I told that Strange guy about this too. Figured two witches are better than one when it comes to the never-before-attempted super-juju.

[ so, please: talk to literally anyone but him about this. he's going to be busy drinking himself numb so he can forget how weird it is to have a living body again.

he takes a backwards step toward the exit, pointing his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the door. ]

Well, I'll leave you to your quiet. Thanks again.

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