as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[shreds]

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[shreds]

( After ditching the first car and gaining a second, it gets late and it gets darker. Katherine suggests they stay somewhere for the night so they can be up and on the road early. Since she's become a hunter, she's on hunters' hours and hunters rules. The sooner they get to Kansas to this 'bunker' off the map, the safer they'll be.

They are equally infamous having the same face.

The highway gets darker until she sees a lone motel up ahead, the VACANCY sign blinking in its electric blue hue.

She pulls up and into the gravel parking lot. There are no lines indicating parking, but there are parked cars. She parks, making sure nobody can block her in or cut her off should they need to get moving. )

We shouldn't stay here for more than a few hours.

( She undoes her seatbelt and climbs out, her heels clicking along the rough asphalt. It needs to be repaved and painted.

The front door's bell rings as she lets Elena through.

A burnout in a tattered XL grey shirt leans against the front counter.

🎵 )

[braveandstupid]

I can drive a bit for the next stretch if you want.

[That could potentially be a terrible choice, though Elena would like to think she's left her car wrecking days behind her. That might be more convincing if she hadn't just almost died in one.

More than anything, however, she wants to change out of these scrubs and maybe take a quick shower. She carries with her a bag from the local outlet mall the stopped at and flashes the guy behind the desk a smile as she does.]

Hi. One room please? Cash.

[They might be tracking her credit cards.]

[shreds]

( Katherine Pierce stalked Elena from afar long before Elena ever saw her face to face. Staying five steps ahead meant she is still well aware of how many cars Elena Gilbert has wrecked. To be fair, the first was destroyed by a tomb vampire. The second by the vengeful (and twisted) spirit of Matty Blue Blue's sister. The third, Rebekah - and the reason she really has to thank Rebekah Mikaelson for making her human. And nobody can forget Elena, Damon and the combustable car killing Markos and the other Travelers.

It's been years and Katherine hasn't nearly been as obsessed with Elena as she once was, the girl with the life she could've had, her only bargaining chip in her race against Klaus. But, she was in town during her and Caroline's daring escape and yet another car accident.

Katherine exudes a modicum of restraint as she replies. )

Let's put more miles between us and any hunters.

( It's her nice way of saying, until she's convinced a hunter won't run them off the road. Katherine's more secure in her own driving skills. She can't blame her...

Katherine, too, needs to change, a modest haul from the, ugh, outlets under her arm as well.

The burnout doesn't react. Motels like this get cash requests often. It's just far enough out of town that the affairs, the divorces, the has-beens find their way. He doesn't question a doctor and a slick lady, he does not so subtly react to their resemblance, taking the cash.

"Room 12," he says, placing two keys down in front of them. "You two..."

Katherine rolls her eyes. She's not about to deny something and draw more attention. )

Are sisters.

( Taking both keys, come Elena, she pushes the door open again and leads the way. She walks along the bottom floor, rooms one through six, before ascending the steps to the second, reaching the last room, room 12.

They pass an ice machine, a vending machine, and a coffee machine all between each door, theirs closest to the coffee machine. This is when Katherine finally hands Elena her key and uses the one in her own hand to unlock their fleabag. Or, she tries. It doesn't budge. She turns to Elena to try the key she was given to no avail. Looking at the keyring and the keychain, she sees the number painted in gold, a '2'. She sighs, holding it up for Elena. )

Stoners. Wait here.

( Katherine descends the opposite steps back down. From here, Elena has a full view of the parking lot, including an annoyed, fatigued Katherine bursting back into the small lobby office.

As Katherine bursts in, a despondent brunette exits her room a few doors down and approaches the coffee machine beside Elena. She flashes a sad smile. Under the fluorescents, she looks like she hasn't had much sleep and the puffiness around her eyes may suggest she's been crying. She sniffles and inhales, pulling a dollar out of her purse. She holds it up to the insert and it slides in, quickly sliding out. She tries flattening the dollar along the edge of the vending machine. She inserts it again. It sputters back out at her. She turns the dollar over and gets the same result.

"I just want coffee." She speaks under her breathe, tries again. It doesn't work. She tries again and it slides pitifully back out at her. She hits the machine from the front once, "Come on!" twice before she starts to pound on it out of frustration.

"I know there's coffee in this machine!" )

[unforgivably]

( Damon wasn't planning on abandoning his life, his car, or his house, but in the blink of an eye, most everyone he knows in town is heading in the other direction. Caroline implies he should too. It's on theme. What's left for him, but a woman he'll always love who's moving in with her new boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend (and probably his best friend, his almost sister-in-law, and her boyfriend). On second thought, he should be happy he's not under the same roof of that zany sitcom.

He makes the arrangements he needs to from the airport. His assistant manager understands. He exudes confidence. Damon is expecting ten calls a day. The time zone difference will bite them both in the ass, but Damon has no choice.

He tried calling his brother but, again, time zones.

Not knowing what to do with himself alone in an airport, he sits at the only open bar and proceeds to get wasted. )

[somanyadjectives]

[Stefan wakes up, checks his phone and squints at the text from his brother. A lot of strange things happen in Mystic Falls over time, but doxing isn't usually something in their purview. He debates on the appropriate way to respond, but in the end he decides his best chance of getting a straight answer from Damon is to actually speak to him, so he calls instead.

When Damon answers, he cuts to the chase:]

You were doxxed?

[unforgivably]

( Oh. Finally. He doesn't care about the airport bartender listening in on his call. )

Me and everyone else we know. And everyone else they know. Gotta catch 'em all.

[matriarchate]

( In a different part of the country, the ladies leave the men to do mens' work. They get to pay for the rooms. Allison and Lydia spent hours in the backseat unable to discuss ... well, anything. Allison has a boyfriend and Lydia left someone she was interested in because Allison died. As things usually do in their lives, things snowballed from there. Being with a Winchester leaves everything pedal to the metal, literally, in the Impala. But, she likes not being followed by rogue hunters. She doesn't like hearing about her friends being in their crosshairs. Isaac confirms he and everyone are okay. Scott's going to help a witch with the Underground, where Jackson is, and Stiles is actually answering messages again.

Suffice it to say, Lydia and Allison have things to discuss.

Allison jokes and tells them not to wait up. Dean has a conversation coming to him, anyway. And he needs sleep. Not that Allison is an expert on who needs sleep. (Dean needs sleep.) He just does.

The bar next door is dark, but tinged in a red and pink glow. She likes the borderline rave aesthetic and they both need a drink.

A little later, Allison sits on the edge of the bar, her legs dangling, and plays with the straw in her drink before taking a sip. The bar only did simple drinks, nothing 'fancy,' but also only liquor. Allison has a vodka cranberry. )

Now that we've lost the guys. That was a ride.

[beanchaointe]

Yes, it was.

[She orders herself something alcoholic and fruity, before settling onto the stool next to her best friend. She has a feeling that Allison isn't just going to want to talk about herself and her relationship, but Lydia is more than willing to follow the flow of the conversation to keep things off herself.

Mostly because she doesn't quite know how she feels yet.]

So you and Sam are all official now?

[matriarchate]

( They'll ease into Lydia as the topic of conversation. Hers and Lydia's conversations have always been give and take. )

I guess. No thanks to his brother? I'm not saying I even know what to say to my dad, but maybe I would've changed the subject and asked what Sam would want. ...But Sam's not my brother and I am not the poster child for healthy family anything. ( She shrugs, a smile forming. ) But despite how it happened, I'm happy we are. No frills. No - stops and starts, dark periods, betrayals... God, Lydia, all I have to compare to are my high school exes. And Sam hasn't stabbed me. I'm thinking, upgrade.

[reducedradius]

( They must go through two bottles of wine, and that's after the first bottle before the premise of the evening blew up so thoroughly.

The top floor, or the property Rebekah's brother owns (or rents, it's unclear), has more bedrooms than needed, and gives Neal and Sara the privacy he thinks they need to properly freak out. Neal Caffrey is unflappable. Even when he loses it, he keeps it together. But, it takes every ounce of restraint to sift through Rebekah and Doc's long lives. Rebekah's a viking? John Henry is the Doc Holliday?

His tie is somewhere in the main room a few hallways back, but Neal still turns toward the mirror to take it off.

Remembering it's not on his person, he goes through the motions of getting ready for bed. He decides to remove his belt, but keep his pants on. His shirt stays unbuttoned because at some point, he just forgets to take it off.

His ass sinks into the edge of the front of their borrowed bed. It still hasn't sunk in. )

Rebekah is older than every painting I've ever stolen.

[tornadoinheels]

[Sara honestly hasn't said much since Rebekah and John Henry started telling them the truth. By all accounts, she's too logical a person to believe in such a thing, had she not seen Rebekah put a man to sleep with her mind.

Vampires, witches - it all seems like far too much to actually be existing in the world, to actually be rea, but at the end of the day, she can't deny what she's seen with her own eyes.

She can't help, however, but smirk at Neal's response as she takes off her heels.]

She might have even been there to see them painted.

[reducedradius]

She might have sat for them.

( Her smile is met with his as he still can't believe their night. )

You hear things about cursed relics, but you assume the story's out there to deter people from taking them. Are they really cursed now?

[praevaricatio]

( The sun cracks through the clouds as Ezra opens the trunk of the Adin-Gainor's vehicle. Shopping was both a gesture of good will for Jacqueline and an attempt at getting a few hours between him and Elena. He just needs to keep buying time. Collecting what he and his husband had packed, and a few shopping bags, he closes the trunk again.

He parked across the street from the compound, leading the way up the front walk, letting his husband and Jacqueline in through the metal door.

Once they reach the front door, he speaks in the Colony's tongue, an older pre-English English announcing the three of them and then he turns to David to do his thing. David has the power and the clearance to get them inside.

Once the door is open, they're presented with a far different architectural design than one might expect from the outside.

The member that greets them is dressed in a sequined black belted pencil dress. Allura, of whom David and Jacqueline are familiar, is higher echelon. One wouldn't think someone from this high up would greet members just checking in. Something might be wrong. The lobby isn't as bustling as it usually is, but it is also early in the morning. Or, this may have to do with the Adin-Gainors being the ones who are checking in. Or Jacqueline. It remains to be seen. She eyes the shopping bags, but doesn't say anything.


Except... "Good morning." )

[maleficum]

Good morning, Allura.

[David doesn't mind taking charge. Especially since their appearance seems to have directly summoned the manager. Jaqueline hangs back, bags dangling off her arms as she gives the woman a nod in return.]

Apologies for dropping by without calling but we found ourselves in a bit of an emergency situation.

[tramplemain]

Never apologize for not breaking protocol.

( Ezra shoots Jacqueline a subtle look. He may have been doing it to keep up appearances, but it's never bad to be in their good graces. )

As you can see, you're not alone in this. Executives aside, our ranks have been hit. Hard. We're still waiting for more members to check in and our internship program ( the taught witches the Colony recruits from the Ivy's ) is missing in action. Luella ( her assistant ) is late. ( and yes, to this group, that's something. luella has been punctual for centuries. She holds her palm over her chest. ) I opened this morning.

( Which is bizarre.

"So, it's just you?" Ezra asks. )

And you. Others are on foot. Some are unaccounted for. I think I said that. We were going into Lockdown, but I've received word that there are a few - high priority members my bosses want located. I don't know what you were expecting from the Baltimore compound ( and it leaves... a lot to be desired, according to her ), but luckily for you, you don't have to stay long. ( She's a New York girl. ) Should you accept the assignment.

( And make no mistake, David, Jacqueline, Ezra. It's known that when an assignment is offered, it's not turned down. )

[slavophile]

( Having driven all night, the two cars stop just outside of Central City, at a rest stop. The cars and the passengers need to refuel. Now that the sun is up, William promises Mia he'll take over when they get back into the car. He gives anyone that asks his order (coffee, a bagel) and takes the time to really stretch his legs.

Mickey breaks off from the group to change his clothes.

William doesn't join anyone inside, having waited for a more thoughtful time to give his uncle Barry a call. )

[supertardiness]

[It doesn't take long for him to get an answer. One ring, two rings, and Barry's bright voice appears on the other end of the line.]

Hey, William. Everything okay?

[slavophile]

( It's still bright for William as he holds a hand above his forehead and takes two steps into the shade. )

Uncle Barry, hey! It's - yeah. Kind of. Mia and I are in Central City with a few friends. And, the FBI is going to be meeting us because there's this list out on the internet and -- long story short, I joined up with a group that helps the supernatural and Mia is supernatural, and we're all on that list, us, our friends, but it's going to take more than just me to take it down. And I was wondering if I could borrow Star Labs. If me and the FBI can... borrow Star Labs. Also, if you have time, we'd love to see you. Did I mention we're on a clock?

[barely]

( The Gilbert Gallery hosts in-state artists and out-of-state artists, and rarely the gallery owner's own work. Because his curator met him at home for something, Jeremy was caught mid-project and convinced he should show his own work for once. With Jeremy's name comes the customer interested in the rare and in the mysterious. It's one painting in a show of other artists. It's Dawn who convinces him to go, and on his arm no less.

He never likes to be the face of his gallery, wanting the art to speak for itself.

That is, when he's not hunting. Hunting is still his main activity, under the nose of his family members. Dawn is the only one who knows he hunts and understands. She's the only one who understands all his stories, his mistakes, where he's come from and the family legacy he carries with him every day. Her mom's gone like his and her dad might as well be. She also has an older sister. And she's -- well, the equivalent of adopted and she learned about it when she was also a teenager. He and Dawn just click.

The night of the show, he refuses to look at his own painting, preferring to stay in the other room in the gallery. He holds one glass of champagne out of politeness and sticks close to his girlfriend. )

Thank god we're showing tonight and not next week. You know Alaric and Jo would insist on coming.

[ooglyboogleys]

They're proud of you. That's not a bad thing, is it?

[Spending time in galleries is always a bit bittersweet, reminding her of her mom. She misses Joyce all the time, but now is not about sad Dawn times, it's about supporting her boyfriend and making sure his opening goes off without a hitch.]

I know I'm proud of you. You worked really hard.

[barely]

I just don't need the attention on me, it's not why I do it.

( Jeremy has never been good with the spotlight on him. He likes to fade into the background and live up to his potential quietly. He also couldn't do the work he likes (the work that helps people) if he had more notoriety. Could you imagine driving up to some small town with Tyler and people being distracted by the fake FBI Agent Jeremy Gilbert the artist.

If he's honest with himself, he wouldn't hate the art world, or the parties. He always liked parties. )

You know you can tell me if you're not okay with Alaric and Jo staying in our guest room. I know I asked and you said yes, but if you have real feelings about it, you can tell me.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

( The family descends midday, but after fussing over Rebekah's well being, their nephew, and their guests?, night falls and the siblings retire to their chambers. Either Bela or Freya will be tasked to cloak their whereabouts, but for the time being they feel safe. Healing needs to happen and Henry will be a big part of it, much like Hope was at one time, before things went to Hell. But, that is their cycle.

Doc takes their charges onto the terrace with more wine to assuage any of the insanity (and to answer another round of questions) which leaves Elijah handing his sister a glass of champagne.

He takes a seat opposite hers in one of the chairs on the first floor, the fire going in front of them. )

Despite the circumstances, it is good to be under the same roof again. Minus Kol.

[likeaweapon]

It is.

[It's nice to have all her family together again. Even when they get on each others nerves, having them all in one place feels like home. And she wants them to be part of her son's life. Especially having Elijah here is heartwarming, as it feels like so long since they've been on the same continent, let alone in the same room.]

Where is Kol anyhow? I thought he was staying with you in New Orleans?

[illtempered]

( The Underground is always moving It is everywhere it needs to be and nowhere it once was. Jackson has had a rewarding run so far, a whirlwind romance he didn't see coming, and a few new friends. ...Well, people who tolerate him, who are as rough around the edges and even less warm. For a group of people hell bent on helping others, they're not personable themselves.

Julian volunteered to be undercover. A recent recruit friend-of-a-family-friend, Julian didn't fit in like Jackson did. Julian smiled. He worried about what happened to their clients after they relocated. He cared. And while Jackson and the others cared, they didn't wear it on their sleeves. They didn't live with it. And, if they did, they didn't talk about it. They talked about what was in front of them, they helped, they got out.

Until this job is done, they can't leave. No man left behind, even when that man is undercover. Jackson thinks he burned out. He took it too far, got invested and now they don't know what's happening. Their scries can't sense him, and now his sister on the warpath is on her way down.

For the record, Jackson voted against him coming on. Someone that Scott McCall had something he was hiding. Something dark. (Scott McCall's his litmus test for genuineness. There's Scott and then there's everyone else.) )

We should cut our losses.

[swillpot]

We can't do that.

[Not just because it's the right thing to do. Julian is one of their people and they don't leave their people behind or in a bad place unless there's a body to go with it. Cutting their losses isn't something they do, even in opportunities where it could be safer.

But also because Julian's sister is terrifying.]

Kieran's on her way. I'm sure she'll take over when she gets here, but we can't hang him out to dry.