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

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[imnot_likeyou]

Yeah, basically.

[A beat.]

It's just until we get back to the bunker.

[Unless he wants it to be permanent but that's something he can discuss with Ezra.]

[cholesterol]

( He looks behind them, at Elena and her parents and Lucas, with his. )

I don't see any other alternatives, long as he promises it's not permanent.

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam nods, before clapping his brother on the shoulder.]

Will do. Thanks, man.

[And with that he will head back to Ezra.]

That spell you mentioned isn't permanent, right?

[praevaricatio]

Not unless he wants it to be. I'm guessing that's a yes.

( He's surprised, but it's better than waiting for a third car to arrive.

Across the way, Grayson checks in with his wife, arm around her waist, asking how she's feeling - physically, anyway, and Evelyn finally turns away from her family as they rejoin the group.

"What's the verdict?" ) she asks.

[imnot_likeyou]

We're going to put it on the Impala. I'm sure Elena will want the Gilberts with us, but do you have enough room for Lucas?

[He's offering the space if it would be more comfortable, but he has a feeling she wants to keep Lucas with her.]

[disputable]

It's a tight fit, but I think Lucas should decide. We're all reaching the same destination.

( And, selfishly, maybe it might be good to unpack this with her husband. She even exchanges a look with Michael, too, to make it clear, maybe he could do with space? )

[sullivansr]

[Michael raises an eyebrow at his wife, considering, before glancing to Sam.]

If you're offering, I may ride with you. I think Lucas would prefer to ride with his mother.

[And maybe not deal with his father for a bit. Things aren't explosive but they're not perfect either. Sam seems to read into that just enough (18) and nods. "Of course." And he'll head off with Ezra to get the Impala ready.]

[disputable]

( While time away from father and son can go either way, the outcome with her sharing the car with her son steadies her breathing every further. She appreciated her husband that much more. She and her husband can unpack this back at the bunker in Lawrence and Lucas can work through his and his father's -- distance. At least at first.

Evelyn makes sure the Gilberts are helped across the bed of rocks that is the climb back to the mouth of the cave.

Once everything levels off, everyone breaks off on their own as Dean leads the group back up the path to where the cars are parked.

Ezra instantanously adjusts the inner guts of the Impala, the back door open and waiting for whatever configuration happens.

Dean's driving, though. He does wait for everyone to get where they need to be before climbing in. )

[braveandstupid]

[Sam gets shotgun, as is his right as little brother but slowly they arrange themselves throughout. Michael will slide into the very back with Ezra. And Elena will find herself between two parents who have been dead near two decades and very unsure how to even have a conversation with all the context they'll be missing.

Miranda sits next to her daughter, hand in hers, and mostly makes small talk and knows that the larger conversations will have to come later.

But eventually they'll make a stop for gas and food, Elena will hang back as people go inside and pull out her phone to call Jeremy. This isn't a conversation meant for a text message.

In the truck, Lucas will ask more questions, mostly about how things ended with Monroe and why they were in that tomb in the first place - does not like the idea of his parents being dragged into some kind of witch war, but has a feeling he wouldn't be around otherwise. But when Evelyn hangs back, he'll just head in to get food and coffee for them both.]

[founderscouncil]

( At the truck stop, Grayson and Miranda take the opportunity to stretch their legs, and to grab snacks and whatever else they want, courtesy of Dean.

Grayson breaks off for a second, wandering the meager amount of aisles, finding himself in front of the "snack" aisle. At a loss. )

[happiness_elude]

[Miranda is wandering, looking over the different packaging, both surprised and confused as some of it actually seems ... healthier? At a gas station?

Times do change.

She takes a couple bottles of water from the fridge and then moves to join her husband, rubbing his back gently.]

You need to eat something. A granola bar, at least?

[founderscouncil]

( she needs to eat, but, she's not wrong. he wills himself to grab a back of trail mix and some jerky, showing it to her. he feels like his body needs protein. )

This work?

( he does take one of the bottles out of her hands and uncaps it unceremoniously, taking a long drink. he finishes the entire moment off with a sigh. )

Do you think - she's almost forty?

[happiness_elude]

[He will get a smile and a nod, because yes that will do, before she goes to gather some options for herself.]

Probably around that. Sam said it was 2032.

[Which seems like such an impossible number.]

Can you believe that's Sam Winchester? It's like he's a different person.

[barely]

( Jeremy drops his trunk down, currently covered in whatever his just (rightfully) killed. Pulling his phone out, he sees his sister's name and connects the call. Hitting the speaker icon, he opens the back door and sets the phone on the backseat as he pulls his shirt off. )

Hey, Elena.

( Leaning over, he digs into his duffel. )

[braveandstupid]

Hey, Jer.

[If she sounds tired, it's because she is. And also uncertain, because she doesn't even know how to begin this conversation. Especially since they don't know how long this is going to last.

Start with the highest priority information:]

I need you to come to Kansas.

[barely]

( she does, and as he puts on a clean shirt, he zips his bag up, and picks the phone up.

pants still dirty, this still feels more important so he brings the phone up, cradling it below his mouth, the other hand resting on his car.

if he didn't know any better, she'd finally want him to meet her boyfriend, but when have they been on those terms. and hasn't it been, like, months?

this feels more somber. )

Elena, what happened?

[disputable]

( While Lucas is inside, Evelyn parks the car and walks over to one of the empty picnic tabls. She clips ontop with a sigh.

Laying back, she blinks from the setting sun's rays as she finds her other son's number.

She dials Cooper and brings the phone to her ear as she closes her eyes. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Coop glances to check the caller ID as his phone rings, fully intending to send it to voicemail if it's not important, but when he sees that it's his mother, he immediately picks up.

That is the deal, and he doesn't want her to worry.]

Hey, Mom. Everything okay?

[He assumes it's not, because otherwise she'd be texting.]

[disputable]

( Fuck, she had it together the entire car ride and already she has to pause to gather herself as tears creep up again. )

Hey, baby. Are you somewhere you can talk?

[cholesterol]

( Dean collects a bag of road trip essentials and hangs back at the front counter with his brother, just 'Dude,' eyes.

He and his brother have a few minutes to download away from everyone and he needs to talk about it. It's Mary all over again. )

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam shares that expression and follows his brother off to the coffee counter, reaching for a cup to start to fix one for himself and one for Elena.]

Rowena doesn't think Ezra is off the mark. This could be a long term thing or this could just be a way to generate extra bodies for Hernandez to jump into once she's ganked.

[cholesterol]

If they're only back to be Hernandez' meatsuits, then what do you think happens when she's ganked?

( Is that her failsafe? )

They all go up in smoke? Or drop dead right there?

( Elena doesn't deserve to lose her parents again. )

[praevaricatio]

( Ezra's message to his husband is quick and dirty. )

I apologized to Elena, got slapped and clown car'd the Impala today.

( All separate instances. )

What do you know about the hereditary mirroring rune?

[maleficum]

Sounds like your day's been exciting.

[Certainly more than his, given he just got to hang out with his mother. Unfortunately, his husband is not going to be that helpful (9).]

Runes never really were my strong suit. Why?

[praevaricatio]

Do you remember my first pre-Elena assignment? The Quinn's?

( How he drew out their dead child, brought him back completely, but only to get what the Colony wanted. Not for their gain, ultimately. Sure, he's grown up, but is he the same? )