waxes & wanes

"Sure,” Dean said with a slight tilt of his head to the right before he shook his head at Charlie. There were more questions than answers but that was something that always seemed to happen around anything related to science. Science and magic - two of the things that Dean was sure that Daniels would never be able to understand, ever. Period. Even if he tried his damnedest. Dean leaned backed in the office chair he sat on and looked over to the incubation tube that Amber was in before he frowned. “So, right now, you’re just waiting for Amber to wake up from the depths of whatever she’s in and then …,” Dean tilted his head back to the other side and looked over to Charlie, then slowly rose an eyebrow before he sighed. Then he frowned and said, “Then what happens? You two go right back to being a pair of inter-planetary travelers-slash-thieves?” Dean pressed his lips together and frowned then said, “You two have so much potential and you could do so much more. Especially in this world.”

As with all things related to Charlie, Dean had more questions than answers and as he looked at him and the Amber in the tube, Dean had even more answers. He opened his nouth to say something, but nothing came out except for a heavy, exasperated sighed as he took a step back. He flopped down on the empty office chair next to Charlie and gestured to the tube. Dean never considered hismelf to be a smart person, but at this point, he couldn’t even figure out how to ask what he wanted to. "Charlie,” Dean began, it came out as more of a question rather than anything else. His eyes moved into the tube as he let the silence surround them. With a slow shake of his head, Dean’s confusion was obvious before he finally said, “… why are you raising her clone for? I don’t… are you in love with her? Is that–that’s gross, even for you. I just …Charlie, I just …what are you even doing to yourself?”

"Because I know you’re more than just your music,” Dean said as he looked over to Charlie, “You’ve been doing so much more. I mean, I hope your music takes off and all, but I can’t believe you’d let your brain rest like that, Charlie.” Of all the people that Dean knew, Charlie was one of the smartest people he had ever known - Charlie was half of the Wonder Twins, after all. Dean’s eyes narrowed at him as he look at Charlie until charlie admitted the truth. Then the mention of Amber caught his attention. Even if he thought that the scientist was insane, she was brilliant in the things that she could do. He cleared his throat and looked at Charlie, “What have you been working on, Charlie?” His brows furrowed as he looked at Charlie, “What did you get yourself trapped into?”

"I liked it better when you weren't this smart," Charlie muttered.  His mind would never let him rest, not when there were so many things to unlock in this puzzle called life.  Music was something that Charlie loved and enjoyed, but honestly, his mind never settle for it.  He sighed and nodded to the right, "Alright, I'll show you.  Follow me though and don't get all touchy with everything."

Genny let out an exasperated sigh. She liked it better when Charlie wasn’t hovering so closely. She knew that he was just being protective and trying to be her older brother, but she didn’t want him to be, not now. “Why do you have to keep throwing it back to our parents?” She asked, frustrated. “I”m not being prideful. It just doesn’t feel right… Her parents are amazing and if I do stuff like that, I’ll look like a freeloader who is only using their daughter because I’m good for nothing.” She couldn’t answer his second question. “I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe, it’s because Aurelia Vale is the Director of Altimira and I remember play dates at Altimira.” She then grabbed his arms. “How do you I not mess up?”

“You really are a charmer Charlie.” replied Grace with a sarcastic tone. “Go ahead, let’s see you get on the Billboard’s Top 100 chart.” She then pouted at his comment, he caught her there. “You’re a party pooper you know that?” However, her expression turned curious at his statement. “Get to where? You’re confusing me!!!” she whined. It seems like she can never keep up with the Wonder Twins. They have the tendency to do a million things at once and as much as Grace would love to support them, there’s always something else added to their roster. “Don’t you get burnt out?! Genny’s on the verge, I swear you are too…You just have a good way at hiding it.”

The demigod remained silent. Perspective? Perhaps they did know what they want. Either way, Grace was committed to ensure her friends wouldn’t die. They had so much going for them, therefore if they wanted to stay in this current timeline, then she won’t leave them behind. Despite being quiet, Grace wore a bewildered expression as her confusion remained. “Who are we staring at? Or what?” Looking around, she’s been trying to find Charlie’s point of focus, but it seems like he was overgeneralizing it. “Ah, point taken. When you think about it, we are the cause and effect of this world…”

Charlie shrugged a shoulder at Grace in response, then rolled his eyes as her sarcasm continued.  That was fine - she wouldn't be the first person to say something like to him, Genny was his sister after all.  He looked at Grace and then started to snicker at her confusion before he said, "When I get there, you'll know.  Everyone will."  Charlie's agenda was never something that he shared too often;  it was better just to give people glimpses, especially when he wasn't so sure how the endgame would be.  Charlie shrugged and said, "It's called balance.  Genny still needs to figure hers out.  That's why I told you, you might need to give her some motivation for it."  Charlie shrugged, "I'm fine, man.  I'm the last person anyone needs to worry about.  Just me and my music."

Dean was happy for Charlie. Really, he was happy that Charlie could find something to put his heart into but Dean wasn’t so sure that Charlie’s mind was completely into the music. This was Charlie and Charlie never made sense to him. For all the time he’d known Charlie, Dean could never figure him out. While Dean made short work of the attackers in front of him, he didn’t give Charlie much attention until the last attacker hit the ground; luckily, these were low-leveled thugs and Dean didn’t have to tap into his own abilities. "You’re not retired,” Dean said as Charlie finished up with the goon. He looked over to the fallen attackers as they scrambled from the ground and he said, “Come back again and we won’t be as nice.” Dean’s eyes narrowed at them, glaring until they took off. Hopefully, those goons don’t do anything else.

“Why are you retired?” Dean asked Charlie, “Well, why do you keep saying that you’re retired? When you’re definitely not.” Charlie might have been inherited Amber’s lab, but Dean still knew the signatures of that scientist in events that unfolded. “What are you really doing?”

Dean looked over to Charlie and rose an eyebrow at him before he asked, “So, you’re just going to stand off to the side when you can actually do something about it?” Dean never had any issues with Charlie. In fact, he thought Charlie was one of the smartest people that he has ever met and yet, he couldn’t understand how anyone could just stand aside with that much potential in them. There were people who had the luxury to make that choice, but Dean always felt as thought he inherited the path that The Huntsman had forged many years ago. “I’ll argue with you later,” Dean said as he turned his attention to the goons before he lunged forward to throw a punch at him. Then he pushed Charlie down, away from the goons lunging for them. The fight started and even though Charlie was claiming he was useless, Dean knew better. He didn’t have to worry about that guy.

“I’m not being stupid, stupid.” Genny did know that she was being defensive, but she justified it by how attacked she was feeling. Charlie didn’t need to metaphorically jab an arrow toward their family name. “I want to pay for my share. I never want to just freeload off of my girlfriend. Do you know how embarrassing that would be?” She inhaled deeply and held her breath for a moment. She wished and hoped that the conversation would end sooner rather than later. “Both of her parents are back and I skipped the ‘accept me’ stage to the ‘i’m living with your precious child’ stage. Lilith already hates me and I can’t imagine what Aurelia will do…”

“I know! I’m not stupid!!! I just don’t like it when you and the rest mention the obvious.” Grace didn’t like to think about her loved ones dying. It was naive of her to think they’d live forever just like her, but she always focused on the present and maintained their life force from going off course. It was the least she could do. Suddenly, the demigod cringed at his advice, “You did not just say that to me. Fuck Charlie, she’s your sister! Don’t ugh! You could have been vague and shit! No need to get into the specifics.”  

Mr. Jacques patted Grace’s back as she felt the rejection. “Fine, your loss.” she mumbled with her arms crossed. “Mmkays Charlie Puth 2.0. When you do have a security team of your own, I’m challenging them to a match to see just how safe you are.” It probably would result to a death match, but he didn’t need to know that. She just wanted to prove a point after all.

While Charlie explained the obvious, Death’s hues darkened as she kept her arms crossed and huffed out a sardonic laugh. “You tried and failed, but it opened up new opportunities! The way I see it, I think it corrected both your ways of life. You ended up finding your passions and what you’re good at.” She then nodded solemnly and agreed on the concept of adapting to their current timeline. Tilting her head as she stared at Charlie, she glanced up and pointed at Mr. Jacques, “What are we looking at? Mr. Jacques? I thought we established that he’s cool? Nothing is ever normal here Char-Char, the C in Ceres stands for Crazy, Crazy Shit-tropolis y’know?”

Charlie shrugged at Grace's reaction.  "It wasn't even that graphic," he said with a snicker attached.  He rolled his eyes and shrugged, "I can make it more graphic.  I'm a song-writer, you know?  Baby-making music has always been stuff to hit the charts."  He tilted his head toward her and shrugged, "I said sexile.  That's not that bad.  Imagine ...," he trailed off and shook his head, laughing as he turned away from her.

"Not everything needs to lead to a fight," Charlie responded to Grace's words.  "No need to be so scythe happy, even hypothetically," he said.  That was too much effort in a direction Charlie never liked anyway.  Charlie shook his head and rolled his shoulders back.  "If I get to where I want to, I won't need bodyguards," he stated simply.  There were plenty of things that Charlie needed to get done but each step took its time;  there were too many things to worry about than the things that he couldn't.

“I’m not making fun of you. I say that with complete seriousness. Being sucky is sort of what happens when you’re the older sibling.” She shrugged. “It’s just a thing that happens.” Genny sighed as she turned to watch him fix the panel. “I only do what I need to… I still have to pay the bills and being a part time instructor doesn’t pay very well.” She didn’t feel like anything was wrong. It was just business, after all, and work was important to her. She was going to change science and forge her own path. She was going to be more than her name and work was a good enough reason to do what she needed to, right? She placed her hand in her pocket and turned the bottle around a few times. “I’m being honest… I’m just stressed, ok?”

Mr. Jacques flames ignited as soon as Charlie spoke about the reapers. It surrounded them instantly, but Grace made hand gestures to extinguish them. “Shh you idiot! Don’t wish Death upon yourself.” However, at the mention of his twin, Death frowned as a look of concern was show on her face. “You noticed it too huh?” Her tone was worrisome as she furrowed her brows and looked at Charlie with a helpless gaze. “Any advice on how I should approach her about it? I hate seeing her like this.”

Grace massaged her chin as she pretended like she had a thinking cap on. “I think it’s dope that you’re pursuing your passion Char-Char. If you do end up famous, please don’t forget about us. Oh! You should make me Head of Security. It’ll be soooo worth it! Mr. Jacques and company can take on a human form, no one would know!!!” 

On the topic of the timeline, the demigoddess faked an offensive gasp as the blame remained on her, Sawyer and Dean. “Hey!!! You Wonder Twins have the exact same accountability as us! And technically, no one asked you two to chase after us like your life depends on it! You’re not even ‘Go! Go! Power Rangers!!!’” She sang to theme song of the Inner Sanctum Group, before returning to her serious demeanour. “I know thaaaat! It doesn’t take a genius to decipher how shit the timeline is and I know we’re all not going back any time soon. It’s just…” She was worried that she’d lose their life force in the process, but so far she was capable of keeping them alive. “Nevermind. Forget it. Not today satan.” She didn’t want to bother going in too deep.

Charlie looked at Grace and shrugged.  "I'm only a mutant," he said as he threw his hands up in the air, "I will eventually shed off this mortal coil.  It's part of the matrix cycle that we're in, Grace.  Not all of us are Horseman or Demi-Gods."  And that was fine with Charlie.  Time wasn't infinite for him and that pushed him to do more than most people could think of.  Twenty-four was young enough to be able to do something.  He looked at Grace, "I've tried talking to her recently.  She ain't biting my bait.  So," he put his hand on her shoulder, "You might have to sexile her until she gets her shit together."

There was skepticism in his glance to Grace before he shrugged.  "Nah," he declined her offer, "They're your squad, Grace.  I'm not about to jock on that."  Charlie shrugged and then said, "You spend your time with Genny.  Don't you worry about me and my thing.  I got a handle on all of it."  There has always been a plan.  Charlie had never been someone to go do things blindly, especially when it came down to himself.  There was method to his madness.

There were a million and one things that Vance should be doing instead of staring at the group of people that were surrounding someone with a gui–That was Charlie.  “Oh,” Vance said as the realization dawned on him.  He walked over and shouted, “Hey!  Leave him alone.  Leave him and his guita–Who am I?  Me?  I’m Vincen–no, my name is Vance.  Sorry.”  Vance had many weaknesses an as his bright blue blinked in confusion, this was definitely one of them.  Too many things were being said.  Too many words.  Vance brought his hand up to the side of his head, his fingers scratched against his brunette locks.  “Ah, Charlie, why are you bothering these guys for?”  Wait.  That wasn’t right.  He looked at the guys and his face twisted in annoyance as he said, “Stop confusing me.”

Dean stood across from him, watching the situation unfold. His brows knitted for a moment as he looked at Charlie. A sigh came from him as he folded his hands over his chest and tilted his head to the side. Of all the people that Dean knew, Charlie wasn’t someone that he could never understand - and his father was the Hunter Daniels. With a hefty sigh, Charlie cleared his throat and knew he had to interrupt the situation. He walked over to the goons surrounding Charlie then accidentally bumped into them. “Oh, shit, shit,” Dean said as he pretended to trip over them and shoved them aside until he was standing next to Charlie. He looked at him and asked, “Why are you pretending like you can’t handle these guys yourself?”

“okay, peanut gallery.  i wasn’t asking for that opinion,” rory replied to charlie.  despite knowing how smart charlie was, rory still though that the boy could be on the stupider end of the scale sometimes.  apparently, that was common with the boys that she knew.  her eyes narrowed as he put on those glasses.  she swore that she’d seen them before, but she couldn’t tell.  “very chic of you,” rory replied, “are you going to be modeling them on your channel now?”  she may have teased but she knew they wouldn’t be just regular glasses.  charlie never felt like just another person to the blonde.  rory made an annoyed click in her throat when charlie explained the situation.  she looked at him and then said, “are you going to be just another bystander?  or you gonna help me out and get yourself some more fans, mr. rockstar?”

rory had an amused smile as she heard charlie’s voice.  she cast a glance at him before she looked away from him and back to the scene.  why did she have to be so short?  she could barely see past the backs of people’s heads.  “no shit sherlock,” rory said as she heard charlie’s commentary.  there was definitely a crowd building but since she couldn’t see very much, the blonde couldn’t figure out what her plan of action would be.  she looked over to charlie and said, “you’re tall.  what can you see from up here?”