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

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[positiveinfluence]

Good.

[He wants to make sure that's clear. He's not used to having to maintain something, so he wants to make sure that he's showing that he's making the effort.]

I think he'll like you, if you get to meet him. Not that he's a hard sell. He trusts me a lot of the time, but ... I think he'd like you all the same.

[slavophile]

Well, when you're ready and everything's sorted out. I would love to meet him. I can't wait, okay. And, if you do need me. Remember. Big jet.

( He can be there in hours. )

[positiveinfluence]

I do remember.

[And he definitely has been thinking about places they could possibly go with said jet. Places he's wanted to see but never thought he would because of the life he lead. But rich boyfriend does have it's perks.]

I'm thinking that maybe when everything's settled there's some places we could go, if you're not too busy.

[slavophile]

I don't know how many ways I can translate big jet into, I have the time to use said big jet and not make it sound obnoxious or entitled, so, I will just say I've thought about the same things. And I'd love to show you the world, but on an equal playing field and with trust, not Aladdin-style. ( he pauses as his thoughts reorder themselves, or try. ) I've been drinking, was that romantic or too me, me me?

[positiveinfluence]

I'm leaning towards romantic.

[If he's entirely honest, he sees himself as more of an Aladdin than a Jasmine in this relationship, but William's the one with the means. Their relationship is a little better for not having the pretense of him being a prince anyway.]

There's a lot of stuff I do want to see, one day.

[slavophile]

Then we'll get you to one day.

( That's a promise. )

How early are you going to head out tomorrow?

[positiveinfluence]

Pretty early. I want to try to get to the bunker as soon as I can.

[He has a feeling this isn't over yet, as nice as it is to have his brother back, and he wants to make sure there's no catches before he lets himself feel it too much.]

Then we'll see what happens.

[slavophile]

Okay. Do you... want to talk about any of it? Or, we can talk about one day. I'm here for anything.

( Even just being here also feels like enough. )

[positiveinfluence]

Not until I know how bad it is.

[Not that someone can do feelings wrong when it's their feelings, but he wants to make sure he's feeling the right ones. That he's not making a mountain out of a molehill before he even gets there.]

There's probably a catch.

[slavophile]

Because of the trap.

( There's the pit in his stomach, still lingering from when he first heard it. )

But, he's with everyone, so. The trap's not - ( he shakes his head. ) I don't know. But. You'll get answers and then you'll know how bad it is. If it's bad. Maybe it's not all bad. Maybe he's just back.

[positiveinfluence]

Nobody's ever just back.

[There's always a reason and the reason is usually dad. For right now, the only good thing that Coop knows is that he's human, and everything else is negligible.]

But I do appreciate you trying to look on the bright side.

[slavophile]

One of the only sides I know, but blame my stepmom for that.

( Felicity, not Laurel. )

Try to get some sleep, okay? And if you can't, you know where I am, Sullivan.

[positiveinfluence]

I do. I'll let you know when I get to the bunker tomorrow.

[Probably a text versus a phone call as he'll have bigger priorities, but he will keep William in the loop.]

Don't let the girls get you too drunk.

[slavophile]

I am my own man, Cooper.

( But, Cooper's not wrong. )

I love you.

[positiveinfluence]

Love you too. Talk to you tomorrow.

[And with that he will pass out to try and get some sleep, even if sleep isn't coming easy.

The next morning he gets up and drives the rest of the way, arriving at the bunker somewhere in the late afternoon and he studies the exterior for a bit before pulling out his phone and texting his mother:]

I'm here. How do I get in?

[disputable]

( After a morning run and an awkward group breakfast, Evelyn joins Sam and Dean with the books, in case something else emerges to give her son a leg up. So far, blood is the going idea and Dean has plans to make Lucas his own bullets before they fly out tonight or tomorrow.

She gets Cooper's text and Dean meets him at the landing.

From behind him, Cooper can hear the bunker's door unlock and in a few minutes, he'll see Dean's face greeting him.

"Over here," he says, veering him back across the grass and up. He exchanges quick pleasantries but knows he's a man on a mission, so he lets Coop make his way down the stairs himself. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Coop gives Dean a wave and a smile, but he's not wrong - as good as it to see him, any hunter, in one piece when they do the job they do is always good. But Coop is here to see the man who meets him at the bottom of the stairs and pulls him into a warm hug.

It's good to see Lucas again, touch him again. He asks all kinds of questions that Lucas doesn't have answers for, at least not yet, but eventually it gets down to "what are we going to do about it," and he's less than pleased.]

So in order to free them from the evil witch, Lucas has to go murder her. It has to be Lucas.

[He wants to make sure he's understanding the situation.]

[disputable]

Or, Grayson, or Miranda, but, everyone agrees Lucas has the experience behind him, and the best chance at this, if we have only one chance.

( and that's the gist. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Coop nods slowly, because it's a solid plan. He then looks back to his brother.]

Do you need backup?

["There'll be witches there. Supposedly they want the same things we do, so I'll have help."

Coop doesn't think that's the most ringing endorsement, but fine. Lucas makes a face before:

"Did you call - "]

Yeah. Do you want me to -

[Lucas shakes his head. "No, not yet. Not until we're sure it sticks."]

[disputable]

( A silent look passes between their parents, but Evelyn isn't going to pry. )

One of the witches is here. He helped your father and me. ( Tried. ) He knows what he's talking about and, as far as we're concerned, we trust him.

( All that trust could topple at any moment, but. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Cooper nods slowly. He's not sure he's thrilled with this witch, but if Mom trusts him, then he'll follow her lead.]

Okay. Then we trust him.

[Coop sighs heavily, running a hand over his face.]

When do you have to leave?

[disputable]

As soon as possible. They have boots on the ground in Mexico already. He and Ezra are joining them.

( So, it's a shortlived reunion with the promise and hope of more to come. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Coop nods before pulling out his phone.]

Did they give you a phone?

[Lucas nods before fishing his out. As he exchanges numbers with his brother he frowns. "Hey, where's Mickey? Dad said he made it out."

Coop's mouth gapes for a minute.]

Uh. He's up in Star City.

[Lucas pauses, studying his brother. "Did you tell him?"

Coop rubs the back of his neck.]

No, not exactly.

["Why the fuck not?"

Coop glances at his father, who raises an eyebrow.]

Uh. Well. It's a little ... complicated.

["What's complicated about it, Coop?"

Coop can't get his mouth around it because he doesn't want to out Mickey, but before he can get it out, Sullivan does it for him: "Because Mickey got turned, and inviting him in would be complicated."

Lucas bolts up and looks at his brother. "The fuck?"

Cooper, however, is staring at his father.]

You knew?

[Michael gives his son a look. "I spent a cross country road trip with that boy, he was a inside man for the Mikaelsons of all people, and you two disappeared for a few hours and the next day, the Central City blood bank reported a shortage. It may take me a bit to catch on, but I ain't stupid."

Coop buries his face in his hands while Lucas just glances between the two of them. "What the fuck happened after I died?"]

[cholesterol]

( Evelyn is back to being behind, just watching her boys come to a stalemate her husband wins for himself. She doesn't know Mickey, or much about what happened personally in Europe, only the basics and the aftermath.

Dean's slipped in behind everyone, unlocking his burner drawer. Elena's parents need two to their name to start, in case there are people not dead they want to contact, and each other.

He pauses, drawer open. Two plus two usually equals four: )

You two share a bf who was turned and compelled by Klaus?

( Never the subtle brother. )

The guy at drinks?

[positiveinfluence]

[Lucas blinks and then turns to his brother like please explain.]

He was turned by Damon Salvatore, actually, but yeah.

["And where the fuck were you? You were supposed to have his back!"]

I did! Until they split us up. They sent me to Prague and Mickey to Mystic Falls. I'm not sure what happened, but the next time I saw him, he was a vampire, compelled to be Klaus' inside man and trying to kill me to keep his cover.

[To be honest, neither of them have dug too deeply into this, and from Cooper's perspective the ways he failed Mickey tread too closely to a lot of things about New Orleans that he would prefer to forget. He didn't want to have this conversation this way but here they are.]