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

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[slavophile]

( he leans back. )

Yeah. Queen Consolidated or Harris Technologies?

( he has two to pick from. and if they're grounded. he has business partners and allies. )

[positiveinfluence]

That is good to know. But I think I need the drive to get my head on straight.

[And maybe by the time he gets there, they'll have a better idea of what they're dealing with.]

[slavophile]

Okay. But, don't get lost in your thoughts and drive yourself into a ditch. And stop if you need to, I don't care if he's alive, you need to be, too, to see him with your own eyes. Okay?

( And if he adheres to that, then yes, he has his blessing. )

[positiveinfluence]

Yeah, of course. It's more than I could do in a day anyway. I'll probably grab a motel room around Salt Lake.

[He might not sleep well, but he will get off the road.]

[slavophile]

Then call me when you get there. And when you leave. Or - you know. Just - let me know, okay. You're not alone.

( in this. )

[positiveinfluence]

You will hear from me, I promise. If it'll make you feel better, I give you permission to GPS track my phone.

[Not that he doesn't think William wasn't going to do it anyway, but now he doesn't have to feel like he's spying.]

[slavophile]

I promise not to watch that little dot like a hawk.

( He hugs him again, knowing the crazy of a dad missing. Of a relative, friend, -- people come back to life in his. He never thought he'd have something like this in common with Cooper. )

You uh, want some space? Go. Pack. Map it out. I'll get everyone out of here.

[positiveinfluence]

Thank you. And tell them I'm sorry.

[He pauses before reaching out and taking William's arm before he can go.]

Don't tell Mickey yet. I want to see how bad it is, and he can't go without it getting messy.

[slavophile]

Hey. It's not mine to tell.

( he holds the contact, smiling, before he leaves his boyfriend in his bedroom.

he returns to the party and announces that they're going to have to cut this short. he dodges sly, cheeky questions, laughs, and says his goodbyes. mickey looks like he's going to pry, but he chooses not to, ushering wes back out leaving only his sister in his kitchen.

she should be putting away appetizers, not eating them. maybe she's doing both.

he closes the front door and crosses the floor of his penthouse. )

You worried about me, him, or do you just like knowing my business?

[blackstarred]

All of the above?

[She turns to face him as she pops one of the jalapeno poppers in her mouth before shuffling the rest into the tupperware containers.]

Dinner-halting phone calls usually don't mean good things are happening?

[slavophile]

And, isn't it on me to update you when I know more about what halted dinner?

( But, she can see right through him. She knows he knows. He gives a look back in the direction of the back bedrooms before moving up to the kitchen counter and taking a seat. He reopens the tupperware she closed, picking up a popper in his hand, looking down on it. )

So, his parents were helping Elena and the Winchesters and a trap was triggered. And apparently, his dead brother isn't dead anymore. And now you know as much as I do.

[blackstarred]

Shit.

[That's a wild turn of events.]

So he's heading out?

[slavophile]

He's heading out. To Kansas. Big family reunion. I offered...

( Help him not spiral about this. He is an independent boss and he don't need no man.

Also, this means nothing, this is a personal crisis. Cooper will come back when or if he can.

Right? )

[blackstarred]

[Mia tips her head to the side before making her way closer.]

You know he's stupidly crazy about you, right?

[slavophile]

I - I mean he likes me. I really like him. He stayed, he's a hunter, isn't it only a matter of time?

( Yeah, just a little more convincing. Because even though he sees all that, he sees he's a catch, Mia. It's just abrupt. )

[blackstarred]

If it was only a matter of time, I don't think he would have put you through the whole meet the friends schtick.

[She pauses as she moves closer.]

Or driven all the way with you from New Orleans to meet Dad. Or stuck you with his dad for most of it.

[slavophile]

Yeah, Michael Sullivan... was intense.

( He takes her hand. )

It's the first time, maybe ever, that, it's been like this. Not maybe. He's the first real -- I feel like we found each other. Literally. In the rubble of a collapsed building in London. And, I know he's not going away. He's just - going. ( He nods. ) Thanks. For the perspective.

[blackstarred]

Of course.

[She gives his shoulder a squeeze.]

I hope things work out with his brother.

[slavophile]

Me too. Me - too.

( Because, like his boyfriend, he doesn't know what Cooper has in store for him. What's awaiting him. What 'trap' even means. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Coop makes his way out of the bedroom, bag slung over his shoulder, and flashes them both a small smile before making his way over.]

I'll call you when I get to Salt Lake.

[A beat.]

Or maybe if I just get bored on the road.

[slavophile]

Whenever you want.

( he meets him at the door for a kiss. )

Let me know if I can do anything, okay?

[positiveinfluence]

I will. Honestly, if this all works out we're probably going to need ID's and stuff but I will let you know.

[He will lean in and give him a quick kiss, before dipping out the door.]

Bye, Mia.

["See you, Coop."]

[slavophile]

( he waves behind him, sinks into the door frame, drops his head back and talks to himself. )

It's going to be okay.

( and then he gets to work helping clear, cover, and store the appetizers.

and then they are getting drunk tonight. possibly a half hour from now. you're on brother duty, today. cooper might catch him more buzzed than he's ever seen him. )

[positiveinfluence]

[That will be fun. And sure enough, after checking into a motel outside Salt Lake he will call, almost expecting it to go to voicemail because it's getting late.]

[slavophile]

( He may have called back Zoe for this, too. It's better to drink in packs than just with your sister. He tries to drink to hope and not to losing his boyfriend and not to his boyfriend losing his brother all over again. )

What do you think he meant. He's back and it's a trap. Like, if it's a trap, he's going, so it's not like a trap-trap, right?

( his phone rings and his eyes go wide. )

It's Cooper. It's a trap. He sprung the trap didn't he. But he wouldn't be calling. I should answer it right?

( well, he said he would. so, he does, tapping the connect button and bringing the phone to his ear. he almost falls backwards off the side of his sectional, but he catches himself with a yelp.

cooper can here the whoosh of almost falling and a small yelp. )

Hey, hi, sorry. Balance can be ... so challenging. Did you make it to Salt Lake?

( he gestures for them to bring it down, waving his palm down. does he care? does cooper? it feels polite? )