rumorate | eastbound } { ic inbox

I think it's like what happened to Vanya and Klaus. They ... disappeared.

[It happens to people sometimes.]

[ How is that so easy for her to accept? This family... ]

People don't just disappear. People make them, but it doesn't happen for no reason.

How did we all just end up here, with no memory of actually traveling here?

[Because no one's been able to solve that question either, but it's a fact they have to expect.]

Something interfered with the briefcase. Or it was tampered with. Or... there was something bigger involved when we were in transit.

It's complicated, but just because there's more than one possible explanation doesn't mean there isn't one. [ He could be dead. Try as he might, that's the option Five is stuck on, and why he refuses to stop looking. ] And if it is some anomaly, Diego can tell us when we find him.

Right now, all we know is that he's missing.

[Allison isn't sure she buys that, because if it's something with the briefcase, why are they all coming and going out of order. It doesn't feel right, but she'll go with him on it. He knows more about the briefcases than she does.]

Fine. He's missing. So are the wolves, except for Grace Three, who's with Emilia. Do you think he ran off with them without telling anyone?

Because you all are usually so good at sticking together? [ How many times has he had to tell them? ] ...I think it's possible he saw something, decided to play vigilante, and got in over his head.

[ Wouldn't it be nice if he was just locked up in some jail. Simpler times. ]

If we've got one wolf left, it could have been intentional. She could lead us back to him.

Yeah, maybe.

[That can be something worth poking at.]

I just got back so I don't think I want to sneak across again so soon. Can you jump between the two cities?

[ It's good that she's agreeing with him. Sometimes it's easier when his mind is already set on doing whatever it takes to find out what happened. ]

Of course I can. [ He might have been jumping around a lot today, but he's still got enough juice left in him. ] You know I can take you with me. It's safer.

[She nods.]

I do. But I should learn how to do it myself too. I'm sure you don't want to sit around and wait while Emilia and I have girl talk.

[Does Emilia call it girl talk? Probably not. But that's what it is.]

[ What with Diego disappearing, he doesn't love the idea of her taking needless risks. He also knows that his siblings are prone to doing whatever they want, and there's little that he can do about it. Although he would like to point out that nothing bad happened to them when he locked them both in a room. ]

Of course you're capable of doing it yourself, that's not the point. [ He frowns, trying to find a middle ground. ] I could drop you off. At least I'll know where to start looking when you vanish because you couldn't stop looking for trouble.

Fine. Next time I go, I'll be sure to let you know.

[But she doesn't want to immediately go back right now, as that would likely attract attention.]

But it doesn't hurt to have options.

[ He's partially appeased that she's willing to tell him, but he's reluctant to agree with the last thing she says. Diego just disappeared without a trace, and she wants to have options. ]

It absolutely can. [ He wants to go back on his suggestion and make it a firm rule. Instead he makes an effort to reason with her bad logic. ] We can't risk you taking the same stupid path Diego did and ending up like him. It's only going to get worse.

I'm aware of that. But what happens if you are hurt or trapped somewhere and I have to get out and back on my own?

[You can't be her only option, Five. That way lies madness and Allison being stuck with dragons.]

[ He doesn't appreciate her hypothetical. That really doesn't happen often enough that she can't rely on him, but he can't say it never has. ]

If that happens, you stick with Wrath or Emilia, whoever's closest. [ Obviously if he's out of the picture, something major is going down. So it's with reluctance that he adds: ] ...And if that fails, I'll draw you a map of the safest route to take.

Thank you.

[It's a good compromise and she would take it. And to be fair to Allison, it's happened once, but she's also been living a good chunk of her life without Five to help her. She's used to doing things on her own.]

[ It's a compromise he didn't want to make, but if it keeps her from ending up like their brother he'll have to deal with it. ]

You're welcome.

[ He looks like he wants to say something else. She's the last one, she has to know how far he'll go to protect her. But after a beat, he switches back to his straightforward tone. ]

That goes for Kamala too. She doesn't need to get it into her head that she should go off searching on her own. [ Like he plans to, but he's the one who can teleport. ] If you see anything...

Kamala will love that.

[Just because she seems to be very excited about super powers, not because she is planning on taking a lot of trips to Dragonville. But she nods as she fills in the end of the last sentence.]

I'll let you know. Promise.

[ Five gives her a long look before he decides to trust her. What else can he do? He had Diego checking in every day, and he still managed to disappear on him. It's an effort to convince himself that Allison won't do the same the second he takes his eyes off of her.

Then he glances behind her, like he expects Kamala to appear just because he said her name. At least having her around gives Allison motivation to stay where she can keep an eye on her.

He's still just as tense as ever, but he eventually nods. Heaving one more sigh he turns and disappears in a flash. He was dead serious, so he'll be back later with a map detailing what he's determined is the safest route. Something he should have done a long time ago, but he won't make that mistake a second time. ]

eastbound } { ic inbox | @taken for granite

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