for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[blackstarred]

[Part of her wants to go "are you sure?" but she or Coop will just test them when they get there. She can focus on the bigger issue.]

Right. I'll call William. Drop me a pin on where we should go.

[And once they say their goodbyes, she'll call her brother and hope she's not interrupting anything.]

[slavophile]

( No, they have finished what she would be interrupting. But the both of them aren't great sleepers, either. So, maybe Cooper's dozed off, but William's online doing some research on returns, coming up empty, because people don't advertise these things.

He sees his sister's name on the caller ID and picks up. For her. He'd probably let anyone else go to voicemail. )

I know, I saw the group text.

( An address is sent for Melanie's hotel and a room number. )

[blackstarred]

I have a related but more specific problem that requires your help.

[From what she's been told anyway.]

Apparently we've got two in Star City - one of them is Bonnie's grandmother and the other is also a friend of Bonnie's but Jay Michael wants us to meet them.

[She will pass forward that address and room number.]

Could you also tell Coop to bring his stuff to like ... test for if they're dangerous or not? He'll know what I mean.

[slavophile]

Silver and holy water. I know what you mean. Yes, I will wake up Coop.

( Sorry, Coop. )

Not that I don't appreciate being kept in the loop, but why, at this hour, are you bringing us both in?

[blackstarred]

You were the one actually asked for. Jay said something about getting them on a plane? I don't know, I'm just the middle man here.

[But she will come to see what's going down with all of this. And to meet Bonnie's Grams.]

[slavophile]

Mia, if they were dead, they have nothing to get them on a plane. It makes sense for them to come to me. I get it now. I'll grab Coop. See you there.

( And he yawns, sliding out of the chair and heading back into the bedroom. He sits on the side of the bed and shakes him lightly awake. )

Cooper?

[positiveinfluence]

Yeah, I heard.

[Hunters sleep light, even when they're not in a place where they have to. He scrubs at his face before pushing up.]

I'll grab my stuff.

[slavophile]

( He kisses Cooper's bare shoulder in thanks. )

I promise we'll both get sleep after. You got the silver and the holy water?

( He's up, going for his closet, because he will not go in just underwear. )

[positiveinfluence]

Yep.

[He holds up his flask as he finishes getting dressed. Silver flask with holy water and vervain and whiskey. Might as well cover all the bases.]

With all the weird going on, I'm sure it's fine. But better safe than sorry.

[slavophile]

Yeah, I don't think either of them are ghouls or zombies or a third thing, but, just in case we have the outliers here in Star City.

( Essentially, the same. Better safe, than sorry.

In the back of his car with Cooper, he speaks, scrolling the group chat. He has a patient driver, neither him nor Cooper should be driving at this hour. He doesn't use him often. He used him more before Cooper. It's still something he's working on. )

I do think I have my work cut out for me, because this is a lot of dead people, though.

[positiveinfluence]

Is there someone else you could tag in to help? I mean, maybe the Winchesters have their own resources.

[All the hunter fake IDs come from somewhere, sometimes the hunters themselves but sometimes there are people that they tap to help, if they can afford it.]

[slavophile]

That I'd trust to do it like me, my sister, and Zari, who's already in the group chat. ( He thinks hard. ) I don't deal in a fake ID network. The Winchesters might know somebody.

( He makes a good point, so William pulls up a direct line to Sam.

Have my hands full on the West Coast, do you and Dean know a guy or girl who are good with a legit fake? )

Maybe I'll get good news and only have the West coast contingent of drops to work on. Sorry I woke you.

[positiveinfluence]

[True to his word, Sam is not sleeping so William gets a response back fairly quickly: I can ask around. We mostly make ours and they don't have to stand up to much scrutiny.

But maybe some of the people there have a good connection.

Coop shakes his head.]

It's fine. Let's go see what we're dealing with.

[And off they will head to the hotel, where Melanie has set them up in her suite. Melanie has very specific needs when she travels, always has a suite with a kitchenette so that she can store her blood bags, as well as any alcohol she has on hand. She's mixed everyone a drink and ordered meals from the hotel restaurant and now they're all waiting for William and Mia to arrive.

Mia catches sight of her brother as she's moving towards the elevator and she pauses to wait.]

[slavophile]

I asked Sam if they have any help on their end. With identities.

( He will wait as she presses the elevator button. )

[blackstarred]

[Mia nods, because that makes sense.]

I can help too. I'm a little rusty, but I still remember how it all works.

[And either he or one of the Tarazis can doublecheck her work.]

[slavophile]

( She learned from the Tarazis and from William, rusty or not, she has a big lay up on anyone else. )

Let's just see what the situation is, then go from there. It's confirmed Bonnie's grandmother and Lorenzo are both dead?

[blackstarred]

Bonnie's grandmother yes.

[That, she knows. She can google, and Sheila has an obituary.]

I don't know about this Lorenzo guy.

[slavophile]

Nobody's sent up any flares or red flags, so I'm going into this friendly.

( And helpful. The elevator arrives and the three of them step on as he tries to stifle a yawn. )

Don't tell me what time it is.

[indurare]

["I won't," Mia smirks as she makes her way to the door and knocks.

A few minutes later, Melanie opens the door and she flashes them a smile.]

Mia, lovely to see you again. And this is your ... brother?

[There are two young men at her front door, not one, so she's not sure which of these young men Mia is actually related to. Mia helps her out by placing a hand on William's shoulder.

"This is William, that's his boyfriend Cooper."

Melanie nods, smile brightening.]

Melanie Hamilton. A pleasure to meet you both. Please, come in. We've all been having drinks in the lounge area.

[marinates]

( "What she said," William says, in go mode. He leaves the yawning in the hallway as he, his sister, and Cooper all shuffle into the impressive hotel room.

Enzo has been conversing with Sheila and enjoying Melanie's taste in spirits. During a proper refill, he grilled Wes about his relationship, what's his secret. Jay Michael seems pretty devoted.

Jay Michael stayed with Sheila, asking about the seventies, and then also... death, which felt tactless and he apologized for it before they got too into the subject.

William surveys the scene, recognizing Mickey as Enzo walks Wes back in. Peering around, William points first at Wes, but draws his finger to point at Enzo. He just looks more like - British vampire.

"Enzo," he says.

"In the flesh, so-to-speak. You must be our mysterious supplier. They speak highly of your work in false documentation," he says. )

[bennettblood]

["We were trained by the best," Mia says with a smile.]

And I'm Shelia.

[She gives a small wave over to the newcomers. Her eyes roam over to Coop.]

So if they're the tech experts, you are?

["Cooper. I'm here to do the uncomfortable hunter thing."

She doesn't seem bothered.]

It's fine. Part and parcel with coming back from the dead.

[She holds out her hand and Coop passes over the flask. Sheila's eyebrows go up.]

Much nicer than having to cut yourself.

[She takes a swig before making a face.]

I take it back. That is foul. Though, before you pass this to our friend, you may want to take the vervain out. He's supposed to be a vampire.

["Noted. I'll mix something fresh from the bar." He takes his flask back and goes to do just that.]

[marinates]

Much obliged.

( "Sheila, I'm William Queen. My sister, Mia. My boyfriend, Cooper. Once he confirms you're both you, we'll get started. I hear we need to get you on a plane today." As William speaks, he pulls out his equipment and sets up at the dining room table. Moving around, he plugs in his spare monitor and laptop.

Enzo meets Cooper halfway, his glass now empty, anyway.

"What's in this mixture that will ensure we are who we say we are?" he asks. Vervain, he assumed, considering Sheila's ask. )

[positiveinfluence]

Vervain for vampires, silver for shapeshifter or zombies, holy water for demons, and whiskey just to make it go down a little easier.

[He dumps and washes out the current contents of the silver flask in the kitchenette sink, before moving to the bar to mix all of it back together, minus the vervain as promised. Once done, he passes it back to Enzo.]

Any of the above you'll smoke or blister, or whatever kind of reaction.

[marinates]

I don't have trouble flying, so I'd rather not be incapacitated.

( But, he does as he's asked. He tips the glass, keeping a poker face going. Sheila is right. It is disgusting. Letting the rest swish back, he holds the glass back out. )

That swill.

[positiveinfluence]

Yeah, it's gross. But look at that. You pass. Everyone's what they're supposed to be.

[Melanie raises an eyebrow with a smirk. "With flying colors it seems." She pauses, then turns back to William. "So what do we need to get our recently resurrected friends where they need to go?"]