there are prizes all around you if you're wise enough to see

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[cholesterol]

( Ezra cants his head, yeah, That.

Sullivan is a man after Dean's heart. That sentiment is echoed as the group starts down into the cave. Because the cave is a natural occurrence, some of the navigation is more precarious, requiring more rock balance. Dean and Evelyn help anyone with an extra hand if they need a balance partner.

Past the rocky incline, they jump down onto flat surface, something probably not decidedly natural.

Dean pulls out his flashlight, double fisting with his pearl-handled gun holding them both outstretched.

It isn't far before his light shines on one tunnel, moves left and shines on a second. He brings the flashlight down. )

Guess we've reached plot twist number one.

( "Is this the part where someone says 'Let's split up,'" Evelyn asks. )

[braveandstupid]

Is there any sign of the tomb being at the end of either one?

[Sam inches forward some, shining his own flashlight down each of the tunnels, before shaking his head.

"Both ways look the same. We could all venture down one and see where it gets us, or we could split up and save time?"

Elena makes a face, not sure how she feels about that prospect, but she glances back to the rest of the group.]

Does it make sense for all of us to go together?

[disputable]

( Ezra tilts his head, leaning in each direction.

"We're not on a clock yet, but, if one path is the one we need to take and one path backfires, what if we're all in on the backfire," he tries to helpfully offer. And what if it's bad, then they didn't succeed and they have a bigger problem.

Evelyn exchanges glances with her husband. )

One path will most definitely backfire, but that's why you called in the cavalry. Splitting up comes with the hunter territory. I say split. But, I'm half the cavalry. We defer to you.

( Dean looks to Sam. What do they think? )

[braveandstupid]

[Sam nods. "Yeah, let's split up. Whoever makes it to the body first, send a text."

Elena checks her phone with a nod.]

And let's hope we don't lose service.

[That being said, she's going to take a step towards Dean, indicating her preferred spelunking partner - and Sullivan, obviously, is going to pick his wife, so all that leaves is Ezra and Sam.]

[praevaricatio]

( Ezra can't win today, and doesn't need the tension there between them. She's safe with two Winchesters, and he can backup the newbies. )

I'll cover...

( "Evelyn," she says. "And Michael." )

Yeah. You go with Dean and Sam, Elena.

( he means it. he missed her 'look' when he turned so he just knows he's in the doghouse and may always be. he gestures a hand for Evelyn and Michael to start down the right corridor.

on the left

Dean takes the lead with Elena in the middle and Sam flanking in case someone or something comes at them, gun and flashlight at the ready again.

"You see anything?"

Cause Dean got a (2).

"It's all tunnel up here," he calls back. And as he makes his way down. "So, what'd Darren Stephens want back there?" he adds, nosy. And concerned.

on the right

Their path is less narrow and only opens wider gradually the farther they go. Ezra hears something up ahead (17).

"I think I hear water," he says, recognizing the sound of a (small) waterfall down a ways. "I'm Ezra, by the way," he adds, introducing himself to the rest party. )

[braveandstupid]

[Elena also does not catch much, distracted from actually scanning the area by Dean's question (7). While her gaze did flicker slightly when Ezra got pulled over to the other side, she'll admit that part of herself was relieved.

It's easier to focus on the job this way, but she knows that easier isn't always better.]

He wanted to explain what he and David were actually after. And he apologized.

[So that was nice. It feels better than it had before.

Sam in the meantime is seeing lots of things (18). All the things. Much better than his two counterparts here. It's probably for the best someone isn't dealing with their feelings.

"Helps if you actually use your flashlight," he jabs playfully at his brother as he lifts his flashlight and moves to take the lead so Elena and Dean can talk.]

[cholesterol]

( Good one, Sammy. Hilarious.

He does hang back and fall in step with his girlfriend, though. Are they labeling it? He's not going to overthink that right now. )

For pulling the wool over your eyes for years?

[braveandstupid]

[She nods.]

It was good to actually hear him say it.

[Elena knows people enough to read between the lines and understands that Ezra wasn't out to hurt her, but some things need to be said, rather than implied.]

It's still not perfect, but it's better.

[Another beat.]

Do you think I've been giving him too hard a time about it? I've been in this situation before where people do things that hurt me and then claim it was for my own good or that they were really protecting me all along, but it doesn't feel like it. I just ... I'm not sure if I can trust my own judgement anymore.

[cholesterol]

( Not perfect's a start. )

What does your judgment say now? Throw what happened before away. You missed it, but he wanted you to. What're instincts now. Best interests, or not, we're doing his dirty work.

( But, for the greater good. Always for the damn greater good. )

Looks a little like a kicked puppy around you, you want to milk that for a little longer, I won't judge. But, coming from a guy that can hold a grudge. Is it worth it. He's here. Risking it.

[braveandstupid]

[She's not sure he's here, risking it for her, exactly. But the point about grudges rings true in the sense that she's never really seen the point of having them. Life is too short and in some ways, she's not angry. She's hurt. There's a difference.]

I'm not still angry, I just ... it's hard for everything that was before to feel real. I can't just jump back to the same level of friendship because I'm still working on trusting him the same way.

[A pause.]

But I can stop being all ... stoic about it.

[Stoic coldness has never been her strong suit anyway. It doesn't really come naturally, but sometimes it's a reflex to at least try and shield some of the softer parts of herself.]

[cholesterol]

Does he expect you to? Your life blew up, you went to the four corners. Maybe start with - not being a bitch. See where it takes you.

( You know, exactly what you said. Sam, make a spot check. )

[braveandstupid]

[Sam is keeping his eyes ahead and giving them their privacy (15).

Elena nods, making a note to try again to talk to Ezra about it, but later, after they're done dealing with whatever's in this cave.]

How far do you think this tunnel is going to go?

[cholesterol]

( The passage widens again, gradually, but it doesn't end in a chamber. Sam's flashlight lands on a mummified body upright, up ahead, two torches sit unlit on either side.

There are a few openings on either side, as if the caves move further into the Earth, but why would they need to? )

[braveandstupid]

[Sam stops, raising an eyebrow as he looks over the scenario, looking for any sign of traps, but his stopping causes Dean and Elena to split to add their own eyes to the mix. Elena frowns as she looks over the room, continuing to slowly step forward so that she's in line with Sam.]

Is this the one ?

[She takes another step and her foot slides on the loose dirt, moving her just past the threshold and, as her hand moves to the wall to catch herself -

- "Grayson, look out!"

Her stomach lurches as the car swerves, but instead of coming to a stop on the side of the road like it's supposed to there's a hard bump as the car hits the sidewalk. Grayson's hands grip the wheel, trying to turn it back, but it's not fast enough. It was never going to be fast enough.

The guard rail breaks with an all too easy snap and then there's a brief moment where she feels weightless, like she's on a roller coaster, the worst roller coaster she's ever been on, so terrible she did it twice.

The water comes up at them quickly, too quickly, and as the she collides with the wall of water -

- Elena comes out of the vision with a gasp, choking on air almost as though she was drowning all over again, one of the least favorite of the ways she's died and Sam reaches out to catch her, concern lining his face.

"Elena?"]

[cholesterol]

( Dean brings the gun down and slips the phone out of his back pocket. First one to the body. He starts to type the message to the group, but he sees Elena fall against Sam and sputter for breath. A message can wait. He moves instantly, closer, placing the phone back into his pocket. )

Hey, Elena.

( He looks at Sam, ) Dude, what happened? ( He looked down for one second!

It's than their silhouettes are lit, casting their shadows on the wall as the body beyond them burns into nothing. Dean looks up, transfixed at the site, the flames reflecting in his eyes and then they're left in darkness again, with flashlights. )

That can't be good.

( He grimaces, but turns his attention back to Elena. )

[sullivansr]

Michael.

[He pauses, before gesturing to his wife, also keeping his eyes on things (18). He's not particularly interested in whatever drama's been going in between he and the Winchesters, but he has a feeling he'll find out.]

And Evelyn. You one of the ones who put them on this?

[praevaricatio]

It's in everyone's best interest that they are in this, but, yes. If we don't get this and the other body burnings done, me, my husband, and every witch you know will be in each other's cross-hairs.

( he sighs. )

It's called the Gauntlet.

[sullivansr]

Heard that before.

[But that's about the extent of what he knows about the Gauntlet (10). He doesn't have very many witch friends, clearly.]

Wasn't that back in the Salem Witch Trials?

[praevaricatio]

The first one recorded. Made it easier, killing a lot of birds with one "I saw Goody Martin with the Devil." ( and now more history. ) They weren't far off that some witches were aligned with Hell, but with demons, and some of the time they didn't know what they were being swayed for. ( he pauses again. ) My husband's parents - the people inside their bodies, the original Colony inner circle - did it to ensure power, and to flush out another one of their heirs. It all goes back to Colonialism.

[sullivansr]

My son tells me everything does.

[His tone is dry, but he's not disagreeing - more that he's been seeing the horrors of the past rise up to cause people pain long enough that he's not often surprised anymore.]

[praevaricatio]

Wants are simple.

( Sullivan, if you don't have any other questions, spot check! )

[sullivansr]

[Well, it's not as good as his old one. That's a big ol' (4). He glances over towards his wife, making sure she hasn't gotten too far ahead of them.]

Anything interesting, Evie?

[disputable]

( a nat (20) has Evelyn locking her eyes on a mummified body's silhouette on an alter up ahead, the wall divets and water pours over the edge below the platform.

she holds the flashlight ahead of her as the passage opens up into a chamber with enough room for the three of them. )

So, do I win something? ( it sits, no visible markings, traps, or pitfalls between them and it. well, if you step off the platform you drop, but. don't drop.

Ezra takes a step forward and says an incantation to himself, under his breath, frowning (15) and he looks back at that.

"There's... magic there," he starts, trying to describe what he felt. )

[sullivansr]

Guess the Winchesters are buying drinks.

[He moves carefully, watching the ground for any sigils or signs. He's about to ask Ezra if it's the same magic he sensed back at the head of the tunnels when -

- Suddenly it's not a cave anymore, it's a meeting hall in London. Cops and hunters are swirling around them, trying to process the carnage in this room - dead witches, and in the middle of it all two dead hunters. One, out of the corner of his vision body twisted in ways that were clearly done by a witch with a vendetta, but he doesn't care about that body.

The one he cares about, he can't take his eyes off of.

Lucas's body lies slumped, unmoving, a hole through his chest with the remains of the broken post sticking out the front. Sullivan is rooted to the spot, seeing the thing he always claims he was prepared for when he and Evelyn agreed to bring their children into this life, but he never thought it would be something he'd actually see. That it would be something he wasn't there for, that he couldn't try to stop.

"I'm so sorry, Michael."

He didn't hear it at the time, but he does upon reflection, the tone he initially mistook as compassion actually just Monroe playing a part, doing her best to keep him on their side.

"But I said the witches couldn't be trusted, and this is just further proof. We have work to do."

He can't bring himself to say anything, can't even bring himself to breathe. He needs to find Cooper, figure out where he spent his night, hope to all that is good that it wasn't inside this compound, but -

- He snaps out of the vision, eyes blinking as the well of grief he's been pushing down for months is forced back up to the surface again and he can't help but suck in a gasp, trying to find his equilibrium again and back to the job at hand.]

Fuck.

[disputable]

( No, she wasn't here. She didn't see this. She can't be seeing this. She's too is fixated on her son's body, moving closer than her husband. She even crouches down, tears fighting to the surface. She gasps as she chokes back a sob and then she's back, too.

She only gets one out as the wind is knocked out from her, as she gasps again, doubling over.

"Woah, woah," Ezra says. His (2) afforded him "magic," but his (19) affords him an explanation. "You guys went somewhere didn't you?" He licks his lips. "The magic, the spell, it's a reflection woven from -"

And like in the other passage, the mummified body goes up in flames, but the three of them can hear the screams from that day until the body is no longer there. Evelyn, bent over, watches as the body immolates, catching her breath, chest heaving as she manages to pull herself back up.

"Fuck."

He turns back to them.

"Where did you go?"

All she can do is look at her husband.

"Our son." )