And I'll Find Strength In Pain, And I Will Change My Ways [Open; Grant Park]

[causedeath]

Tyler's not sure what's going on. He feels breathless as he comes to. The last thing he remembered was passing out after a transformation. His mother is supposed to be helping him help rescue Caroline. But his mother isn't here. And this definitely isn't the caverns beneath the Lockwood estate either

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[pwnspatrickjane]

"Looks like you fell through a Rift."

That helpful tidbit of information (that probably isn't very helpful at all) is coming from a guy leaning out the window of a wiener mobile. Yes, Tyler, that is a wiener mobile. Her name is Irma, and she's very special to Shawn so try to resist the urge to make fun of him too much. Especially after this:

"You look cold. Parka?"

... It's bright blue. But it's better than nothing? After all, this is the middle of a Chicago winter.

[causedeath]

"What the hell is a rift?"

And why the hell is this guy driving around in a wiener mobile of all things. It's weird, to say the least. But it's also cold, and Tyler doesn't really like the idea of wandering around wearing next to nothing.

So he reluctantly grabs the parka and pulls it on.

[pwnspatrickjane]

"A crack in time and space. Kind of like the space between your dresser and the wall, where things fall through, never to be seen again? Except -- you know, instead of falling into an abyss of dust and debris to be found many years later in a forced fit of spring cleaning, you're falling into an alternate universe."

... That may be the most accurate analogy for that. He should save that for all the other times he gives the welcome speech. He looks suitably pleased with himself, and leans to rest his elbows against the edge of the window.

"I know, it sounds crazy, but it actually happens all the time around here. The Chicago in this universe is a little unstable that way."

[causedeath]

"Wait, so this is Chicago? But in some other universe?" Tyler can't help but sound a little skeptical about this. Sure, weird stuff happens all the time in Mystic Falls, but this is far fetched even by those standards.

"Am I really supposed to just believe that?"

[descendent]

Elena hasn't heard from Stefan. She wasn't expecting to, honestly, not after how their meeting went. It didn't help Katherine was there. It didn't help Elena was so far behind their 'timeline', whatever it was called, she couldn't catch up as quickly. She's been looking, not entirely sure what she'll find, what she's looking for, even.

Stefan isn't the Stefan she knew. If she's honest with herself, after a year in Chicago, she's probably not the Elena he knew, either. But it isn't in her to give up, to stop hoping, to help, and so she's looking.

The park is where she first saw Stefan to begin with, so that's where she starts, and that's where she ends, hours later. Hours, when she hears her name, and Elena's head turns to the side, her whole body growing still at the voice. She knows that voice, and she immediately takes steps toward it, following where it's reached.

"...Tyler?" she asks, breath catching in her throat. All these people she hasn't seen in over a year, and suddenly here they are, standing in front of her.

[causedeath]

After his talk with Shawn, he eventually made his way back into the park, trying to look for more clues to what the hell happened. Sure, he's heard the whole thing about it being Chicago and another dimension but he's not totally sure he buys that just yet.

He tries calling out people's names again, like he did earlier, hoping for a response. He's almost surprised when he actually gets one.

He spins around to spot Elena, his eyes widening a little.

"Elena?"

[descendent]

"Oh my--" Elena nearly drops her bag as she makes her way over to him. She doesn't stop to think why so many of the people back from Mystic Falls have fallen through all in one go. Her thoughts settle into an entirely different corner.

Tyler is here, and that means he's a wanderer, too. Caroline will be so happy to see him. Tyler is here, and so are Stefan and Katherine, and it's a lot to take in but thankfully, Elena has all but mastered juggling too many things at once in life.

Sorry, Tyler. Elena hasn't seen you in over a year--you're getting a tight, concerned hug first.

"Are you okay?" she asks, settling her hand on his upper arm. "How long have you been here?"

[causedeath]

Tyler's a little awkward at first when she hugs him, but eases into it. He's known Elena pretty much his whole life, and he'd be lying if he said a familiar face wasn't welcome just about now.

"I'm fine," He says after a moment. It's nice to just relax for a moment after having been wandering around, trying to figure out what the hell is going on here.

He pauses before venturing to the question that's been nagging the back of his head since Elena found him.

"Is Caroline here? Is she okay?"

[breakthelock]

The narration could have waited for Tyler to find his way to the Tower, but instead, the timey wimey is in effect, because Jeremy has to run into Tyler in the park with... very little clothes on. A few months ago, he was forced by the Rift to run around in a loin cloth so it's not like he judges naked people that he finds.

It just takes a second for him to realize that it's Tyler who is in the park and nearly... naked, and he slides a hand over his face.

"...Tyler?"

It feels like everyone from home has been falling through lately, and it's both scary and... reassuring. Jeremy feels that Chicago is a better place than Mystic Falls. There's no Klaus here, and he shoves away the thought in his brain that says Yes.

"Dude, poor timing on the Rift's part," he says after a second before he peels off his jacket and holds it out to him.

He's not sure if it fits... they're both really buff, but yeah, he needs to-- it's winter in Chicago.

The guy has to be freezing. He can keep Jeremy's jacket. Jeremy doesn't even care.

[causedeath]

Tyler's been wandering around for a while now, so to say he's cold is probably an understatement. Wherever this is, it's absolutely freezing. He wishes he cold have had more to wear, but apparently that wasn't in the cards considering he got pulled to...wherever this was right after a transformation.

So when Jeremey shows up, and offers him a jacket? Well, he's ore than a little grateful.

He raises a confused brow as he grabs the jacket, pulling it on. It's a tight fit as he's a little bigger than Jeremy, but beat nothing.

"What the hell is a Rift and where the hell are we? I know this isn't Mystic Falls."

But so far, he hasn't really gotten far on the where it was end.

[breakthelock]

Poor Tyler. It's bad enough that it was that wolfy time of the month for him before he fell through, but to wander around half naked in Chicago during the winter has to just add to that. Jeremy is more than glad to help him cover up. The loincloth incident made him appreciate clothes all the more.

Jeremy shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans as Tyler grabs hold of it. It's good to cover him up somewhat, and he grimaces at the question. He has no idea how people from home keep ending up here, all at once, but he stifles the confusion and paranoia to focus on the question

[causedeath]

It wasn't just any wolfy time of the month either. He had just transformed in front of his mother for the first time in order to convince her to help him save Caroline --

And then he didn't even get to do that. He's stuck in this stupid place instead while who knew what was happening to her. And it sucks. Majorly. To say he's annoyed is an understatement to say the least. Especially considering how the werewolf gene likes to conveniently amp up things like aggression.

"There has to be a way home, I can't stay here Jeremy," He says rather insistently. Because he can'tHe hasn't hung out with Jeremy much since he triggered his curse. There had been too much going on at home. And then he had left Mystic Falls for a while and even after he came back there was always one thing after another going on. Their lives were many things, but boring was never one of them. Still, he trusts the other boy enough to at least speak what's really bothering him

[petrovafire]

It's only fitting in his Mystic Falls parade that he runs into his friend's ancestor. Katherine, for her part, has been noting the discrepancies between this Chicago and the Chicago she remembers. She's decided against getting her own apartment because everyone seems to live in the Kaashta tower and well, that's just convenient. But, her own space is a priority.

She's been searching for Stefan but he doesn't seem to be following his usual patterns. He's imploding, feelings are going haywire... She's worried. She'll admit it. On this night, she's heading back into the tower when she spots a very familiar hybrid... in a jacket and not much else. She can't help but let her gaze linger for a second.

And so, she tries on her Elena skin again.

"Tyler!" she says, her wide doe-eyes moving to him at a human speed before wrapping her arms around him.

[causedeath]

Except this version of him isn't a hybrid. Still just a werewolf for now. But he's been wandering around, still trying to get a sense of things. At least he's...slightly less naked now that he has Jeremy's jacket on.

A familiar voice calls out to him. One he had seen not so long ago. Who's already greeted him here. But she's hugging him again, and he's a little confused.

"Elena?"

[petrovafire]

She wouldn't mind him being out of it, to be honest. Something on her to-do list perhaps.

Katherine pulls back, letting go.

"Have you seen Jeremy?" she asked, the gravelly quality to Elena's voice coming out.

[causedeath]

Sorry Katherine. That's currently for Caroline's eyes only. He's not going to replace his uncle in your bed.

He nods a little at the question. "A little while ago. He's the one who gave me this jacket."