A week after Chloe's visit, the house descended into organized multiversal chaos.
Drake and Ciri finally decided it was time to stop talking about dimensional travel hypothetically.
Which meant the entire living room transformed into what looked like a supernatural war room.
Maps covered nearly every wall.
Ancient journals littered the floor.
Dimensional equations glowed faintly across sheets of paper in Drake's handwriting.
And somehow Stiles had obtained a corkboard labeled:
WORLDS MOST LIKELY TO KILL US HORRIBLY
Current rankings included:
Supernatural.
Supernatural Again.
SomehowGotham.
That One Reality Full of Teeth.
New Jersey.
"No one asked you to make that," Lydia informed him.
Stiles looked offended.
"It's called preparation."
"It's called anxiety with office supplies."
Fair.
Drake stood near the center table studying dimensional pathways carefully while Ciri rested sideways on the couch watching him.
She'd noticed something recently.
Whenever Drake focused on portals now—
He changed.
Not physically.
But subtly.
Older somehow.
Like his instincts awakened beneath the surface.
The air bent strangely around him when he concentrated too hard.
Space itself listening.
Lucifer lounged upside down in an armchair nearby drinking expensive bourbon he absolutely did not pay for.
"So," he mused casually, "where exactly are we risking catastrophic death first?"
Death looked up from her book immediately.
"We are not risking catastrophic death anywhere."
Lucifer pointed toward her dramatically.
"You say that like it hasn't happened before."
"It shouldn't have."
Peter wandered into the room carrying coffee.
"What about vampire world?"
Drake didn't even look up.
"You are banned from influencing this discussion."
Peter looked deeply insulted.
"I would thrive around ancient immortal psychopaths."
"That," Derek answered from the doorway, "is exactly why you're banned."
Meanwhile Scott leaned over the dimensional maps curiously.
"So how does this actually work?"
Drake finally glanced up.
For a moment his eyes flickered faintly black-red as dimensional patterns reflected across them.
"The universes aren't random."
His voice softened slightly as he explained.
"They overlap."
One hand moved slowly above the maps.
Reality shimmered faintly.
Thin glowing lines appeared in the air connecting different symbols and worlds together.
Everyone went quiet instantly.
Even after months—
Watching Drake manipulate existence still felt surreal.
"Think of realities like… layers," Drake continued quietly.
"Some are closer together than others. Similar concepts. Similar structures."
Stiles blinked.
"…So the multiverse has neighborhoods?"
Drake considered it.
"…Shockingly yes."
"That is both comforting and horrifying."
Lucifer leaned forward with interest now.
"And certain worlds are easier for you to access?"
"Yes."
Drake pointed toward several glowing symbols.
"The Originals universe has stable supernatural foundations."
Another symbol shifted.
"Naruto's world has high spiritual and physical energy concentrations."
Another.
"Bleach operates through layered soul mechanics and dimensional partitioning."
Death immediately looked annoyed.
"I hate their afterlife structure."
Scott frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Death looked genuinely offended by existence itself.
"There is paperwork."
Silence.
Then Stiles slowly nodded.
"…Honestly that tracks."
Ciri watched Drake carefully while everyone argued around them.
Because beneath the conversation—
She could feel his excitement.
Not anxiety.
Not dread.
Actual excitement.
That mattered.
For so long Drake viewed power as burden first.
Danger first.
But now?
Now he looked curious.
Hopeful.
Alive.
Lucifer noticed too.
The Devil smirked faintly into his drink.
Interesting transformation.
Eventually the discussion narrowed toward three realistic options.
The Originals.
Bleach.
And Naruto.
Supernatural had been rejected unanimously after Death threatened to physically lock Drake inside another dimension if he even considered it.
"Every few years they accidentally trigger biblical events," she said flatly.
"That is not a vacation destination."
Lucifer raised one finger.
"Counterpoint: comedy value."
"No."
Drake sat beside Ciri on the couch afterward while the others continued arguing in the background.
She leaned against him automatically.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
"What do you want?" she asked quietly.
Drake looked toward the glowing dimensional threads hovering above the table.
Infinite worlds.
Infinite possibilities.
Once upon a time he traveled realities because he had to.
Because things needed hunting.
Stopping.
Destroying.
Now?
Now he could choose.
The realization still felt strange.
"I think…" Drake began slowly.
"I want somewhere we can stay awhile."
Ciri looked up at him.
"Not just visit?"
Drake shook his head slightly.
"I'm tired of surviving places."
His voice lowered.
"I want to experience one."
That hit her harder than expected.
Because for the first time—
Drake wasn't talking like a weapon.
He was talking like someone imagining a future.
Lucifer suddenly appeared behind the couch dramatically.
"Oh good, emotional growth."
Drake didn't even flinch anymore.
"You move like a sleep paralysis demon."
"Thank you."
"That was not a compliment."
Lucifer ignored him completely.
"The Originals world is the obvious choice."
Death sighed heavily from across the room.
"Of course you'd encourage the vampire dimension."
Lucifer spread his arms proudly.
"It has style."
"He means dysfunctional immortals," Ciri translated.
"Yes," Lucifer admitted immediately.
Drake considered the option quietly.
New Orleans.
Ancient magic.
Old supernatural bloodlines.
A city saturated with power old enough to withstand his presence without destabilizing instantly.
And beyond practicality—
Something about it felt right.
Warm.
Alive.
Not peaceful exactly.
But vibrant.
A place built by immortals trying desperately to feel human again.
Interesting.
"I think…" Drake murmured softly.
Then finally—
"The Originals."
The room immediately erupted into reactions.
Peter looked thrilled.
"I CALL VAMPIRE POLITICS."
"No," everyone answered instantly.
Stiles pointed dramatically at Drake.
"If someone gets compelled, I'm blaming you personally."
Scott looked uncertain.
"Are the Mikaelsons dangerous?"
Lucifer burst out laughing so hard he nearly fell off the chair.
Death closed her book with visible resignation.
"Oh, they're going to fit in perfectly."
Ciri grinned brightly beside Drake.
"We're really doing this."
Drake looked toward the dimensional thread connected to New Orleans.
He could feel it now.
The pulse of another universe waiting just beyond reality.
Ancient vampires.
Dark magic.
Immortal family drama somehow rivaling celestial beings.
And for the first time in centuries—
The unknown didn't feel threatening.
It felt exciting.
Lucifer raised his glass dramatically.
"To terrible decisions across dimensions."
Drake smirked faintly.
"…Honestly that might become our family motto."
From the kitchen, Noah Stilinski shouted immediately—
"ABSOLUTELY NOT."