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Who: Lydia Martin, Elena Gilbert + Bonnie Bennett
Where: The Spa
When: February 22
Rating: PG
Summary: Girl time and bonding
The Story:

( Despite being the person that had built the spa Lydia had had few opportunities to visit it lately. Or rather she'd kept herself too busy to do so. In between picking up extra shifts in the clinic to cover Maxine's disappearance, her training and work in the library- her schedule was full, as it usually was.

It's why Lydia had gone there today. She wasn't expected in the clinic and it had given her a few free hours. That and even Lydia Martin needs some down time, especially when there's been a calm few days - or weeks. The last few events hadn't even been that drastic.

The spa was a very welcome sight that morning. The relaxing atmosphere, the quiet and calm of it. There were a few people bustling about, and as Lydia went to grab some towels she saw a couple more that seemed to be- standing. Just standing, maybe looking. Maybe looking a little confused )

There's a lot here. It can be daunting to know where to start with.

( She built the place. She made sure there was something of everything for everyone )

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[ bonnie smirks and nods because wow. for real though. ]

Seriously. I don't think I can express how in need of a spa day we are. I'm not sure we even had anything like this back in the entirety of Virginia...

If we did, we must've missed the memo.

[ if there'd been a worthy spa remotely close to mystic falls, caroline forbes would've likely known all about it. elena flashes lydia a smile, and it's accompanied by a small wave. it's still more than a little surreal to find themselves here. ] I'm Elena, and this is Bonnie. We're both new to Wonderland.

[ elena likes to state the obvious sometimes, bless. ]

Lydia. And I'm very not new to Wonderland.

( There's a smile too, just to make that stating the obvious thing a little less feel-bad. Though considering how many floors there are, how many people there are and how busy Lydia has been lately they could have been there for a while and she hadn't noticed. She definitely doesn't know everyone here )

Why don't we find somewhere to relax and I can fill you in on any questions you might still have?

( Unless they'd literally just appeared there and then in the spa and Wonderland, but they didn't seem 100% confused. There's also little time for either of them to say no before Lydia makes a gesture with her hand holding a towel, going through the doorway to the hall of spa rooms )

That would be great.

[ the opportunity to both treat themselves and get some info on wonderland from someone who'd have their perspective in mind? sign bonnie up. she follows, a lingering glance back to elena -- they are clearly the luckiest newbies ever right now. ]

We woke up here last week, actually. It's been ... interesting to say the least.

[ oh. oh.

it's almost like lydia knows that information is elena's catnip. her ~~nosy~~ curious nature has amplified considerably with their most recent experience; meeting longstanding residents of wonderland is both helpful and a little alarming. she wants to go home, after all, but she'll be focusing exclusively on the helpful part of this equation.

she nods solemnly in agreement as bonnie speaks, and after they've shared a wordless exchange, follows both ladies. ]

How not-new to Wonderland are you? [ she's met people who've only been here for months. (she's met people who've been here for years.) ]

I've been here- just over two years?

( Definitely that. 27 months, by the end of this month, though some times she still needs to remind herself that yes, it really has been that long. After walking past a few doors Lydia finally opens one that haaas- a sauna. Relax and steam )

There's been a few times in that time where I've gone home, but Wonderland keeps bringing me back.

Woah.

[ bonnie has yet to even get into that sort of convo with anyone else. also she hasn't experienced a sauna ... ever. double oh. and a sigh of relief on the side, since she can deflect that feeling for a bit while she gets comfy in here. ]

So you really are an expert, huh?

[ relaxation. when were they last afforded such a thing? even now, she isn't sure she'll manage, though she looks the part now that she's all toweled up. (elena's subconscious is asking her to release some tension, if the luxury bathtub that appeared in room fourteen is any indication.)

two years is - it's a lot. she glances at bonnie with meaning, before turning back to lydia. ]

Do you ... like it here? [ elena's heard plenty of reasons against wonderland, so many of them fighting to find a way back - and she agrees with them. but maybe she's wondering if there are reasons why someone would want to stay. ]

I don't know if like is the right thing.

( Sure there are agreeable parts but there are just as many disagreeable ones too. Towelled up Lydia tips her head back a little, giving the question some thought before adding more to the answer )

I probably wouldn't stay if I had a choice, but there are people I would miss if I left.

( Though Lydia would never remember them given that Wonderland likes to take their memories - feed off of them. Thanks, Wonderland )

My best friend called this place home because we were all here. It's still not home for me.

( Just her current long term living )

[ we were all here. ouch. ]

You've ... adapted.

[ that's about the extent of how comfortable bonnie thinks she'll be able to get, anyway. it takes a lot of strength to do even that much, sometimes. to make the best of a bad situation-- and still allow yourself a spa day, too. ]

[ elena swallows a little, but she's nodding along in agreement. ]

Sometimes, that's all you can do.

[ even as you continue to fight for your cause. you learn to adapt to your surroundings in the meantime, because the alternative is not adapting, and elena is nothing if not a survivor. she cherishes these moments of relative normalcy; she welcomes the good when it comes, but she never gives up, either. ]

( There's a nod. Adapted probably is the right term for it, and Bonnie and Elena seem smart for having figured it out already. And - if they've come from the same place - they're lucky to have each other )

When this place is quiet it gives you time to do pretty much anything. Like go to the spa. For free.

( Because everything here is free, if you can consider it compensation for everything else that happens )

If there's something that you want to do that's not here you can make it happen, too.

Honestly all I want to do since getting here is find a way out.

[ bonnie chews at her lip. it's probably not a new notion to lydia: it's more than likely she does the same. she smiles, then, almost apologetically after realizing that was kind of rude. ]

I mean, not that this isn't nice. Like, really nice.

[ elena mirrors bonnie's apologetic smile—not that it stops the line of inquiry. ]

... You said Wonderland keeps bringing you back. Can we ask what happens when you go home?

[ how much time did she miss? do people even notice that lydia's been gone? elena hates not knowing; it's not knowing that agitates her when she thinks about it. well, that and picturing jeremy putting up posters all over the neighborhood. ]

You go back to the exact same moment that you left from, and you forget Wonderland.

( Hard truths, Lydia knows. She's had to accept it before, and tell other people it. Everyone hopes there's a way to change that - Lydia had hoped when Allison had been here, wondering if there'd been a way that she could save her, but there wasn't one )

If you're gone for longer than a month you never remember having been here before.

[ oh wow. ok that's ... something bonnie's going to need time to chew over. there are about a thousand questions she could ask, but it just doesn't seem right. and truthfully, she knows elena's going to do the nancy drewing, here.

so she just frowns, and shakes her head. ]

I'm sorry. That must be hard.

[ elena is so new to wonderland that her hopes are nowhere near to being crushed. all the same, she is aware of that dissonance when she comes across veterans who've learned the hard way what she'll refuse to learn. hope can take on an ugly form, too.

she is sorry as well, that lydia has had to go through wonderland's ringer more than once. it's more in her expression than anything else, as she doesn't want to swamp lydia with another apology that may be misconstrued as pity. ] I doubt it's the kind of thing anyone gets used to.

You might be surprised.

( After all Lydia has been there for two years, but on the other hand Elena is right. Is she used to it or is it just something that Lydia has come to accept as true? Or expect? No. You don't expect it. You never expect to go home when you do and by the time you're there you've forgotten everything. How can you expect it?

Even still when a familiar face shows up Lydia hopes that they'll remember being here even when she knows that it's been too long. And if Allison ever returned now? Lydia doesn't know what she'd do )

I think a lot of people just try not to think about it. Either they're trying to figure out a way home or they're just here. Living.

( Coping. Doing things in a routine and living - happily or unhappily )

Sometimes just lasting? That's the strongest thing someone can do.

[ waiting out hell is certainly not an easy feat, no matter what form that hell takes. keeping your mind about you when hell tries to make you comfortable is likely all the more difficult, bonnie thinks.

she also thinks it's an empty platitude, even if it's true. ]

Even though it doesn't feel like it sometimes.

[ it makes sense to elena.

she's asked herself more than once how people can go about their days without constantly worrying about a memory they might be losing, or the ripple effects time discontinuities may have. but sometimes that's all you can do. force yourself not to think about it, or you'll go mad.

the fact lydia has endured really is a testament to her strength. elena agrees with that, too. ]

And we all have different ways of coping. There's no one right way to survive any of this. What matters is you have.

[ if caroline were here, elena would not be surprised if coping took on the form of organizing or stress cleaning. ]

That's probably why there's been so many parties here.

( Some thrown by Lydia and others not. People live - celebrate. It's coping. Pretending things are normal and okay when they're really not, but it's easier than trying to stay sane when you know that everything isn't okay )

You'll probably see notices for one before too long.

I can't say that's surprising.

[ it makes bonnie chuckle, but shake her head. ]

But I think I'd feel too guilty going. This is one thing, but celebrating?

Maybe sometimes that's what people need.

[ elena smirks softly at bonnie's chuckle, shaking her head. ]

They need time outs from ... all of this. [ from the constant wondering, the constant fear, the constant anger. ] Carving out moments of normalcy in a place that's anything but normal. [ yeah, that sounds familiar. ]

Exactly, that and it can be pretty rude not to attend someone's wedding.

( Well, if you've been invited anyway. Lydia hasn't attended the ones of the people that she doesn't know )

And when the events get hectic having a party can be calming.

OK so I get blowing off steam-- but you definitely just said wedding, right? Like church and white dress and honeymoons?

[ that is too much. bonnie has lost her ability to can. ]

[ elena's reaction isn't entirely visible, but it does take her several beats to recover. ]

People really get married here?

[ it's so hard for her to wrap her head around. maybe in the end it's worth the risk, to some. but how can you build something lasting in a place that could snatch you away in the blink of an eye? ]

Yep, though less with the church.

( And who knows if it's really official but it's good enough for the people that have done it. Which yes, it is just as weird )

It's something about wanting to spend as much time with someone as possible before anything happens.

( Especially those not from the same world )

There's one coming up.

[ well ok that sort of makes sense. enough that bonnie shifts her focus-- ]

I mean, I guess there's no budget cap, right? You could really throw a major event with the closets at your disposal.

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