2.21 Election

Gabe: "Maybe it's the clue phone."

Chase: "Poor Jade. One of these days I'm going to call her when there's not an apocalypse."
Stefan: "Guess what, Jade? Apocalypse is two days away."
Chase: "See? We're early this time!"

Lorne: "Be careful. The streets are dangerous." Stefan: "So am I."

Chase: "Lots of soul-munching involved ..."

PeanutGalleryChase: "Awwww ? it's so cute when you're being manipulated!"

Stefan: "If anything goes wrong, tell Gabe ..." PeanutGalleryGabe: "? that I love him ..."

PeanutGalleryChase: "She just asked if you needed to go home and iron your little human dress."

PeanutGalleryChase: "Stefan! Stefan! He's our man! Well, sorta ?. Halfway, anyway ?"

PeanutGalleryGabe: "Now's a good time to just start heading for the morgue - try to avoid the crowd."

At 11:45 Friday night, the Scoobies carry (okay, Rachel carries) an unconscious Geoff out of City Hall. They get him back to his house and Deaver fishes out his keys, getting everyone through the front door. As soon as they are in, the door slams behind them. A sprightly wind surrounds them, playing gently with Chase's hair. Fred is happy to see her, apparently. The same wind then tousles Geoff's hair a bit as well, concerned. Rachel carries Geoff back to his bedroom, but when Chase opens the door for her, they're greeted with an unbelievable mess. Unsure that they can even reach the bed, Rachel carries him to the spare room instead. She drops him on top of the covers, and Chase briefly explains the possible side effects of large doses of methamphetamines, telling Rachel that she'll be staying with Geoff as much as she can until he wakes up ? just in case.

Out in Geoff's living room, there's an extensive discussion on what to do next. In the midst of the conversation, Geoff's phone rings. Stefan answers - it's Simone, and she is not a happy camper. Unsure what to do, he cheerfully hands the phone off to Chase, whose mere presence at Geoff's place ends the conversation pretty quickly (after a few nasty barbs). Figuring that whatever is happening on Sunday afternoon, Trisha will probably be involved, Stefan calls Jade to see if he can get any dirt. Jade tells him that Trish has actually been noticeably absent for the last two weeks, and no one has really heard from her. She doesn't seem to know anything about the ritual on Sunday, although she's unsurprised that the end of the world is coming ... again. The Scoobies plan to split up in their search for information. Deaver and Gabe will go to the library to do as much research as they can on the upcoming Belial thing, and any demons or types of demons who may be closely associated with him. Stefan and Rachel will visit Curras to see if they can get any more info on Trisha Boyd-Townsend's whereabouts. Chase sees them out and then gets Geoff more settled in bed. She sets up camp in an armchair in the spare room, where she can keep an eye on him. Snagging Geoff's phone, she looks up Simone's cell number and dials. Simone answers curtly. Chase explains the evening's events. Simone insists that she never lied to Geoff, and when Chase confronts her with Eric's Devon sighting, she tells her that he must have been wrong, as Devon is still catatonic. Chase asks about Sunday's ceremony and openly mentions the impending ritual, and the fact that they don't know who is behind it. Simone's response is this: Devon has a lot of enemies, but she'd look for local supporters of Belial - his worshipers would want to take full advantage of Devon's botched attempt at bargaining with him, leaving Belial angry with the mayor. And with that, Simone remembers who she's talking to, and cuts the conversation short. Geoff still hasn't stirred.

* * *

At Curras, the party is really hopping and there are large crowds of demons. There is an anticipatory energy that is almost palpable when Stefan and Rachel enter. Lorne spots them almost immediately and comes over, looking harried. He warns them that they really shouldn't be down in the demon quarter right now. When asked about Trisha Boyd-Townsend, Lorne rolls his eyes. She went on a partying binge about two weeks ago. It was insane. Like, left clothes in various locations kind of insane. Since then, she hasn't been seen, and rumor has it that she's been shut inside studying up on something - some kind of project for her cousin Simone.

* * *

At the library, all of the books that Isis left empty remain that way; so more information on Belial is scarce. Gabe and Deaver research fruitlessly long into the night, eventually falling asleep atop their books.

* * *

At about 8am on Saturday morning, the Scoobies convene at the library where they find the deeply sleeping Deaver and Gabe. Rachel and Stefan look basically refreshed, and Chase, who still hasn't slept, looks completely exhausted. Her friend Rick is taking care of Geoff (who is still sleeping) while she's running around. The gang starts to discuss what they've learned thus far, when Bannon suddenly appears. He hands a sheaf of handwritten notes to Chase - a quick glance tells her that they are the basic components and instructions needed to for the ritual to reinstate the protective shield around McKennit. He says that he will take care of acquiring the needed components on the list (which is a good thing, too, since some of them are pretty scary). Bannon reveals to the group that his sources have told him a large number of half-demons have been pouring into the area. Seth, who is a magically inclined demon in town, is apparently their leader. They are styling themselves as an offshoot of the Cult of Set - unpleasant, dark magic type stuff. Realizing that this is probably the group Thetis is meeting with, Stefan volunteers to meet with her and her "friends" to try and get the lowdown. Bannon strongly suggests that they put the shield back in place before the impending ritual on Sunday, and they all agree to meet at the grove at dusk to perform the spell.

* * *

Stefan gives Thetis a call, and they end up meeting at the local coffee shop. There is casual talk and "how did you find out" discussion. Stefan tries to bring up the meeting group, but Thetis looks around self-consciously, asking if they can go somewhere more private. Amenable, Stefan takes her to one of his favorite graveyard haunts for a stroll. There, Thetis opens up about her feelings on what she perceives as the unfair treatment of demons by the human population. Stefan tries not to lie too badly while sounding sympathetic and encouraging her to talk. She continues, discussing her feelings about demon rights and that humanity punishes them for transgressions that are just an inherent part of who they are (like, you know, killing and maiming and stuff). When he seems to be in tacit agreement with what she's saying, Thetis invites Stefan to meet a few of her half-demon buddies, who she's supposed to hook up with soon. He readily agrees, and excuses himself to cancel some plans. He walks away from Thetis, pulls out his phone, and calls Chase, who is dead asleep, trying to catch a quick nap before heading back to Geoff's. He quietly tells her that he's going with Thetis, and if he doesn't show up at the grove, to alert Gabe and the others. She manages a monosyllabic response and calls Gabe with a garbled version of the message. Stefan walks back over to Thetis, who hints that she heard every word of his conversation [demons sometimes have that hearing thing, you know].

Thetis takes Stefan to what looks like a worn out YMCA, with a gym and a small caf inside. Close observation reveals that it is not a place that is entirely designed with human comfort inside. In the caf, two young skater types sit slouched on stools at the bar area - a boy with hunched shoulders and baggy jeans and a girl with awkward posture whose dark hair falls into her eyes, obscuring most of her face. Thetis introduces them as Draco and Arachne, respectively. They seem initially delighted that Stefan has decided to join them, but when he defers a bit on his commitment to their "cause," they become suspicious. So, they decide to go out "prowling," and insist that Stefan comes with them. Thetis is very unenthused at this plan, and she follows them worriedly. Skulking into an alleyway, the foursome comes upon a mother and her young son, who she is scolding loudly while he cries.