I didn't try to get you to change back because I liked you being stuck.
[ derek looks insulted, though that probably has a lot to do with derek's own guilt over sarcastically thinking that josh was easier to deal with as a dog. but whatever. derek's a hypocrite, news at eleven. ]
I'm glad you're human again.
[ josh your first mistake was identifying derek as a normal person. ]
[ derek looks insulted, though that probably has a lot to do with derek's own guilt over sarcastically thinking that josh was easier to deal with as a dog. but whatever. derek's a hypocrite, news at eleven. ]
I'm glad you're human again.
[ josh your first mistake was identifying derek as a normal person. ]
[ well, pot and kettle. josh isn't particularly normal either. he doesn't reply to the first statement outright, but the look he gives derek is vaguely apologetic. ]
Human. Don't you think that's a little generous?
[ he knows what derek means, obviously - but he doesn't feel particularly human, not after this mess. either way, it's clearly meant as a (slightly bitter) joke. ]
Human. Don't you think that's a little generous?
[ he knows what derek means, obviously - but he doesn't feel particularly human, not after this mess. either way, it's clearly meant as a (slightly bitter) joke. ]
[ it's a sad state of affairs. derek remembers how josh had clung to his humanity, back in those early days when they'd mostly shouted at each other. but now there's this, derek looking at josh and wanting to say that he's sorry. ]
No.
[ it's a very, very complicated thing derek's trying to express, but he means it to be comforting. ]
My sister's here.
[ because derek will always break important news to josh in an abrupt, awkward manner. ]
No.
[ it's a very, very complicated thing derek's trying to express, but he means it to be comforting. ]
My sister's here.
[ because derek will always break important news to josh in an abrupt, awkward manner. ]
[ things he was absolutely never expecting to hear from derek hale, ever. not that he didn't think he had any family - he knows he did, at some point, but he also knows they all burned to death horribly, and derek doesn't really strike him as the brotherly type. the surprise is obvious, though he does make an effort to tone it down for the sake of manners. ]
You have a sister?
[ they'll get to the her being here part later. first, what the hell. ]
You have a sister?
[ they'll get to the her being here part later. first, what the hell. ]
[ there's some faint satisfaction in surprising the fuck out of josh with news from beacon hills. derek smiles a little, shrugs because what else is he supposed to do? ]
Cora.
[ derek's tone softens, but if anyone pointed that out derek would probably deny it. he doesn't follow it up with i thought she was dead, because that feels unnecessarily morbid. ]
You should meet her.
Cora.
[ derek's tone softens, but if anyone pointed that out derek would probably deny it. he doesn't follow it up with i thought she was dead, because that feels unnecessarily morbid. ]
You should meet her.
She's safe.
[ derek looks like he'd rather not touch that implication. there's a split second where maybe he would have said something, but then he would have to admit that he didn't ask cora about any of it. that he didn't want to. ]
A lot happened.
[ a lot that derek doesn't really want to summarize tbfh ]
[ derek looks like he'd rather not touch that implication. there's a split second where maybe he would have said something, but then he would have to admit that he didn't ask cora about any of it. that he didn't want to. ]
A lot happened.
[ a lot that derek doesn't really want to summarize tbfh ]
I'm getting that.
[ and for once, he's not going to ask. josh is good at prying, but he's also reasonably good at focusing on the big picture sometimes; derek's sister being alive and here seems like the big picture, so screw the details.
that said, if derek thinks he's getting out of bonding over this, he's so fucking wrong. ]
Did I ever tell you I had a sister? [ except wow, screw this place. mildly horrified by his own phrasing. ] Have.
[ and for once, he's not going to ask. josh is good at prying, but he's also reasonably good at focusing on the big picture sometimes; derek's sister being alive and here seems like the big picture, so screw the details.
that said, if derek thinks he's getting out of bonding over this, he's so fucking wrong. ]
Did I ever tell you I had a sister? [ except wow, screw this place. mildly horrified by his own phrasing. ] Have.
[ oh no bonding this is the opposite of what he wanted. what happened to days when he could just wrestle with you and not talk about his emotions, josh?? ]
No. You didn't talk about your family.
[ neither of them did. they mostly just yelled at each other in the beginning. good times, good times. ]
No. You didn't talk about your family.
[ neither of them did. they mostly just yelled at each other in the beginning. good times, good times. ]
[ the wrestling is over and that is one thing josh is a-okay with not talking about thanks ]
I wouldn't. I mean— they were kind of out of the picture. On purpose. There's nothing about this that's really family friendly. [ 'this' being the hot mess that is his life; or maybe just him. he knows he's changed, and not all for the better. ]
You know I tried to tell them what I was? They thought I'd had a psychotic break, obviously, but then Em saw me with a vampire stripper, which apparently does wonders for denial.
[ it's calm despite technically rambling, and he clarifies a moment later. ] Emily. She's a few years younger than me.
I wouldn't. I mean— they were kind of out of the picture. On purpose. There's nothing about this that's really family friendly. [ 'this' being the hot mess that is his life; or maybe just him. he knows he's changed, and not all for the better. ]
You know I tried to tell them what I was? They thought I'd had a psychotic break, obviously, but then Em saw me with a vampire stripper, which apparently does wonders for denial.
[ it's calm despite technically rambling, and he clarifies a moment later. ] Emily. She's a few years younger than me.
I'm guessing you found a way around your problem.
[No hi, or anything, sorry. The brusqueness is really because this is awkward, considering the last time he spoke with Josh--well, he'd been curt and final because that might as well have been the last conversation. But now here he is with a head full of Josh memories and no idea where to go from here! :,)]
[No hi, or anything, sorry. The brusqueness is really because this is awkward, considering the last time he spoke with Josh--well, he'd been curt and final because that might as well have been the last conversation. But now here he is with a head full of Josh memories and no idea where to go from here! :,)]
[ well now the next conversation has to be about wrestling!! ]
Cora's younger than I am. Laura was older.
[ because apparently out of that whole story, derek has decided conquering ages is safer than conquering "vampire strippers" or "my parents thought i had a psychotic break" ]
Cora's younger than I am. Laura was older.
[ because apparently out of that whole story, derek has decided conquering ages is safer than conquering "vampire strippers" or "my parents thought i had a psychotic break" ]
[He laughs, like once, shortly.]
Yeah. Which one? [But he says that with bitter humor, and doesn't get crazy angry, so there you are!] Considering you've actually managed to talk t' me, I'd say that's my answer. You found your witch?
Yeah. Which one? [But he says that with bitter humor, and doesn't get crazy angry, so there you are!] Considering you've actually managed to talk t' me, I'd say that's my answer. You found your witch?
[ never. and to be fair that is totally the safest topic on the table. the same could be said with what josh goes with, because it's the more optimistic version of 'i'm sorry your older sister is in the past tense'. ]
I'm glad she's here. That's great, right? [ murder ship aside. this place somehow manages to be calmer than boston; josh kind of loses track of the fact that it's the worst place ever for most people. ]
I'm glad she's here. That's great, right? [ murder ship aside. this place somehow manages to be calmer than boston; josh kind of loses track of the fact that it's the worst place ever for most people. ]
Oh thank god.
[ yeah that's it, that's josh giving up on the grudge match. because he's seen some shit (mitchell's shit, specifically), and that means it goes both ways - that's enough 'it's complicated' without them side-eyeing each other already.
there's also the fact that josh hates being alone with this crap; mitchell isn't aidan, but it'd be delusional to pretend he's not a reasonable facsimile. ]
Yes, I found my witch— or not technically a witch, but I'm pretty sure that's either politics or semantics. [ a short beat, then with a healthy dose of insecurity: ] What did you see?
[ yeah that's it, that's josh giving up on the grudge match. because he's seen some shit (mitchell's shit, specifically), and that means it goes both ways - that's enough 'it's complicated' without them side-eyeing each other already.
there's also the fact that josh hates being alone with this crap; mitchell isn't aidan, but it'd be delusional to pretend he's not a reasonable facsimile. ]
Yes, I found my witch— or not technically a witch, but I'm pretty sure that's either politics or semantics. [ a short beat, then with a healthy dose of insecurity: ] What did you see?
[ it's for the best. derek wouldn't know what to do with a statement like that, with someone expressing sympathy. no one ever has, not for laura. not for his family. derek doesn't know if he wants anyone to. ]
Great's not the word I'd use.
[ because being on the murder ship is not his ideal pick for bonding settings. ]
I leave with her, she says. I'm going to leave town with her.
Great's not the word I'd use.
[ because being on the murder ship is not his ideal pick for bonding settings. ]
I leave with her, she says. I'm going to leave town with her.
[It's a weird sort of relief, hearing that Josh has his problem sorted--well, getting a confirmation of it, anyways, because Mitchell's seen him around, using real words, not growling, and-- yeah. It's good for George's sake, one less worry, good for Annie, one less instance of her putting herself in danger--and it's a mark of the shift in understanding, that Mitchell is even able to think: good for Josh, too. And good for him, because it's one less constant threat.]
Well. Congratulations.
[And he was just gearing up to ask that same question, when Josh beats him to it.]
It was a lot of Aidan.
[Which was weird. Like-- a funhouse mirror, sort of. Not the same at all, but-- the same. Unnerving, afterwards, the memories themselves were nearly--nice. But Jesus, he's got to ask--]
He fed from you?
[That's not, for once, accusatory. It's just sort of--weirded out.]
Well. Congratulations.
[And he was just gearing up to ask that same question, when Josh beats him to it.]
It was a lot of Aidan.
[Which was weird. Like-- a funhouse mirror, sort of. Not the same at all, but-- the same. Unnerving, afterwards, the memories themselves were nearly--nice. But Jesus, he's got to ask--]
He fed from you?
[That's not, for once, accusatory. It's just sort of--weirded out.]
[ aidan. that seems reasonably safe, or at least it does in the case of mitchell - anyone else, josh would be scrambling with excuses and explanations, assuming mitchell saw aidan slipping off the wagon, but for once that's a moot point.
josh is quiet for a second, ready to respond with something a bit heavier; prophecies and paranoia, the fact that he understands. but then mitchell keeps going with the incredulous question, and it takes some effort to stay neutral. ]
Desperate times. [ a pause, and it's clear he's fishing. ] It didn't work. You saw that part too, right? [ and hopefully just that. josh doesn't quite know how it works where mitchell is from, but if werewolf blood being some magical vampire plague cure is remotely an option, he doesn't want that on the table. it being open season on werewolves back home is guilt enough. ]
josh is quiet for a second, ready to respond with something a bit heavier; prophecies and paranoia, the fact that he understands. but then mitchell keeps going with the incredulous question, and it takes some effort to stay neutral. ]
Desperate times. [ a pause, and it's clear he's fishing. ] It didn't work. You saw that part too, right? [ and hopefully just that. josh doesn't quite know how it works where mitchell is from, but if werewolf blood being some magical vampire plague cure is remotely an option, he doesn't want that on the table. it being open season on werewolves back home is guilt enough. ]
Yeah. I saw that-- Jesus, man, that's not even desperate.
[Because there's desperate and then there's suicidal. Obviously the werewolf-allergy works differently for vampires in Josh's version of the world--good for them, just vomiting and not internal burning torturous death--but it's still mad.
...Though really, that should be the least of his concern. It's an exchange, right?]
What did you see? Because-- [He laughs, at himself, then, not exactly amused--] Look, there's no good way to ask. Do we just-- sit down and tell each other everything?
[Because there's desperate and then there's suicidal. Obviously the werewolf-allergy works differently for vampires in Josh's version of the world--good for them, just vomiting and not internal burning torturous death--but it's still mad.
...Though really, that should be the least of his concern. It's an exchange, right?]
What did you see? Because-- [He laughs, at himself, then, not exactly amused--] Look, there's no good way to ask. Do we just-- sit down and tell each other everything?
[ okay, fair point. it's not the worst for bonding, though, i mean there's that whole mindmeld thing to look forward to!! ]
Leave? As in leave your hometown?
[ derek pls he's not canon familiar when have you ever said shit about beacon hills. stiles was way more informative, but josh didn't exactly get the 411. ]
Leave? As in leave your hometown?
[ derek pls he's not canon familiar when have you ever said shit about beacon hills. stiles was way more informative, but josh didn't exactly get the 411. ]
[ the continued disbelief is the best outcome, and whatever passing tension almost interrupted their little reunion is dropped quickly. ]
Is that... yeah, fine, we can sit down, share our mutual violation of each other's brains over a beer. [ awful phrasing. whatever, he's over it. ] But just so you don't have a heart attack in the meantime, I didn't see you eating babies or anything. [ which is a joke. which he realizes is a distinct possibility a beat later, because vampires, who the fuck knows. ] Just— don't bother confirming or denying that. I never said it.
Is that... yeah, fine, we can sit down, share our mutual violation of each other's brains over a beer. [ awful phrasing. whatever, he's over it. ] But just so you don't have a heart attack in the meantime, I didn't see you eating babies or anything. [ which is a joke. which he realizes is a distinct possibility a beat later, because vampires, who the fuck knows. ] Just— don't bother confirming or denying that. I never said it.
voice; you've ruined me i read scoot and was like WAIT BUT THIS IS JOSH NOT SCOTT also i will log
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humanistic
2013-10-28 03:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[...wow, Josh. There's the old masterful turn-of-phrase selection at work once more, it's been too long. But it all actually comes out--sort of reassuring? Mitchell't not exactly pleased at anyone knowing anything in detail about him--people being in his head, not really something anyone in their right mind would be comfortable with--maybe it's the memories he got from Josh that help him to feel only a little surge of paranoia, one that's easier to settle than the others have been.]
Yeah. Might want to ask your witch if she can help you with your conversational skills, while she's at it. [Not amused but very nearly amused, and a little more at ease. Poor stammering word choices are familiar.] But I'm not so offended that I'm going t' turn down a beer, if you've got time for the space pub.
[Just like old times!]
Yeah. Might want to ask your witch if she can help you with your conversational skills, while she's at it. [Not amused but very nearly amused, and a little more at ease. Poor stammering word choices are familiar.] But I'm not so offended that I'm going t' turn down a beer, if you've got time for the space pub.
[Just like old times!]
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