002: Ring ring, phone call for Mrs. Harvelle

[runboyrun]

Open because Stiles can't work the comm properly yet.

Uh... hey, is that Ellen?

[Behold Stiles' most charming smile. Which is actually pretty darned charming, considering how much practice it's gotten with getting him out of sticky situations.]

So, I was talking to a guy who said that talking to you would be a good place to start if I was looking into learning how not to get my ass kicked. Because not gonna lie, that would be useful information for me to have, considering my history.

I'm Stiles, by the way.

Comments

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

[He blinks, startled by the question. After all of that, Derek's asking what happens to him?]

No. I'm... Okay, I'm not fine, but compared to everyone ele who's going through hell, I'm peachy.

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

[ He gives a stiff nod, clearly relieved, but at the same time no better informed.

It's frustrating business. ]

And Scott?

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

He's, you know, going through some stuff. In constant crippling emotional agony because of his Allison thing.

[His dramatic eyeroll clearly expresses his opinion on that.]

You're fishing. Nice try, but no.

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

[ He groans, dropping his head dramatically as he runs a hand over his face, but he didn't expect anything more. ]

I take it back, there's nothing appealing about your face.

[ But he's as tired of the Scott and Allison situation as everyone else appears to be. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

You're only saying that 'cause I'm pissing you off.

[His grin fades a notch.]

I'm sorry, I just... can't. Yet.

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

[ He hums, thoughtfully, but lets it go; he knows enough to put together who doesn't end up hurt. ]

If it's as bad as everyone keeps implying, I doubt knowing will change anything.

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

[He leans back, head against the wall.]

No. And talking about it just... Hurts.

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

[ Turning slightly to what looks to be an uncomfortable angle, he gets a better look at him, frowns, and nods, because he knows how that goes. ]

Are you okay with Brigid being here?

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

...Yeah...?

[He looks blankly confused.]

Why wouldn't I be?

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

[ He turns his head, staring at the wall. ]

We might not get along, but we're allies. She's...not one of us.

[ He has no problem with her, obviously, and he knows everything she's told him has been the truth. But Stiles is human and she's not, and their experience with outside wolves hasn't been the best. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

She's cool. And you trust her not to rip my throat out while I sleep.

[He shrugs, lip quirking.]

Good enough for me.

[It's a testament to his life that he feels almost safer around werewolves than he does around regular people these days.]

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

Since when do you trust my judgement?

[ He looks surprised as soon as the words are out, face pinching up in that familiar way when something's bugging him, but he sounds surprised about the fact it's a possibility more than anything. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

Two reasons.

[He holds up two fingers.]

One: You're not dating her. Two: If she did attack me, you could kick her ass.

I'm safer here than anywhere else in the Cape, Brigid or no Brigid. And besides, right now, I could take her in a fight.

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

[ He doesn't know why, but he watches as the fingers are put up, and then realises what he's said. ]

What does not dating her have to do with you trusting my opinion?

[ He snorts at that, but Brigid is weakened, so it could happen - stranger things have. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

Nothing at all, no sir.

[His grin is all sauce.]

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

[ His mouth stretches out into a thin line, like he knows he's hiding something he didn't mean to quite let slip, but he doesn't see any point trying to find out. ]

Fine. Whatever. But your logic's unfathomable.

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

No, it's not.

[His smile softens around the edges as he turns to look at him.]

I trust you, Derek. God, the amount of times you've saved my life... I know I'm safer here than anywhere.

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

[ He bites his tongue rather than pointing out that Stiles has saved his more than he has his. ]

You're right, you are. Unless we're counting the angels.

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

You could take an angel.

[He chuckles.]

Or did you mean I'd be safer with them?

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

They're stronger, faster, and I know from experience they can fly.

[ Head drooping to his side so he can look at him. ]

But I don't trust them enough to think you'd actually be safer there.

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

Derek Hale: Doesn't trust the literal heavenly choir.

[He laughs outright at that.]

Is there anyone you actually do trust?

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

I have no reason to.

[ He shrugs, eyes straying away again. ]

Everyone I've grown to trust has always betrayed me in the end.

[ He wants to admit that he trusts him, but then he'll always be waiting for the other shoe to drop. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

Yeah, that makes sense.

[And it doesn't even hurt. Not much, at least.]

[ Action ]

[packpapa]

If it makes you feel better, I don't trust myself either.

[ It's true, sometimes, he avoids things he believes might tempt him down a path that ends badly, but he feels a little lighter for admitting it aloud. ]

Re: [ Action ]

[runboyrun]

No, it doesn't.

[He smiles, just a little.]

But it makes me feel better that you care about making me feel better.

...Derek, you make some dumb choices, but for the most part, you've got our backs. I mean seriously. And I know Scott thinks you made a bad decision when it came to biting teenagers, but... I think he's wrong. I think it was a right choice.