[ look do you think he can wrestle you into pants and a hoodie simultaneously he's a werewolf not a wizard!!
but he is determinedly Not Looking, even if there is an element of the ridiculous to that, to the way josh looks right now. someday they'll have to laugh about it. for the moment though, derek flips him a pair of pants. they're derek's, not josh's, because derek didn't break into josh's room. that had felt just a little too hopeful. ]
[ josh catches the pants, and though he eyes them extremely dubiously, it's not like he's got options. so pants on, dignity sort of back. also he's blatantly worn worse, dresses included. over it. there's a delay while he considers his answer. ]
... normal. As in normal for the morning after, so not great, but not...
[ and here's the part he probably should've started with, slightly under his breath, mostly in disbelief: ] It worked.
derek's expression shifts at that, turns into cautious optimism. it's been a long couple of months for a lot of reasons, but this thing with josh, it was one of them. knowing that it was dealt with... ]
[ good question. the wolf doesn't really keep a calendar. ]
The last time you saw me. How long has it been?
[ because it's obviously working now, but if now lines up with his moon - which he will absolutely never call it, thanks derek - then the evidence is moot. ]
[ sounding less enthusiastic and more anxious by the second, because if this doesn't work - well, where the hell else is he supposed to turn for help, here. ]
I'll have to be careful. Stay near my room, in case it...
[ wears off? and that said, he will blatantly not be staying near his room when shit starts getting weird this month, so forget that. ]
[ it's the smart thing to do. it's not derek's preferred method, but it's what they have. waiting to see what will happen and dealing it accordingly. he doesn't particularly like that, but this isn't something he can run at head on. ]
I'll be there, if you need me.
[ because that's about all derek can do, reassure josh that he'll lock him back up if need be ]
[ this is weird. or it should be weird, probably, the fact that somewhere along the line derek became the guy he trusts on the ship. maybe there's a familiarity in relying on someone who's about as fucked up as you are; beats relying on someone who can't relate. ]
Right. I'll keep you updated.
[ an awkward beat, then josh gives him a look that blatantly says he's about to ask how derek's doing if derek doesn't get the fuck out of here. which is to say: he gets the pattern, if derek wants to awkwardly ditch without having to awkwardly deflect first, now's the chance. ]
[ derek knows that look. it's not a look that bodes well, and derek tenses up immediately, defensive. he doesn't know quite what he needs to be defensive about, but that's the look that tends to mean questions he doesn't want to answer. ]
Find some better pants. I want those back.
[ totally the direction to steer this conversation in, as derek takes a step backwards. ]
[ slightly irritable. please, he doesn't want your filthy hipster jeans anyway. ]
It was great catching up with you, by the way. [ also irritable, entirely sarcastic. he appreciates the help, really; this is what being friends looks like. ?? ] Are you planning on actually moonwalking out of the room, or... ?
[ the expression on derek's face looks less than impressed at this turn of events. the problem with josh's problem being tentatively fixed is that now josh wants to talk. why do people always want to talk to derek about his life? ]
You know this is what normal people do, right? Talk? Show interest in each other's lives? If you're not careful I'm going to start thinking you liked me better as a dog.
[ which is totally a joke. except now that he's said it, pardon the sudden (stupid) flash of insecurity. ] Do you like me better as a dog?
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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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 ]
[ 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. ]
derek aren't u glad you've qualified for friend word vomit status
[ 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.
[ 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" ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
we can just quit now this is the most perfect thing we'll ever do
but he is determinedly Not Looking, even if there is an element of the ridiculous to that, to the way josh looks right now. someday they'll have to laugh about it. for the moment though, derek flips him a pair of pants. they're derek's, not josh's, because derek didn't break into josh's room. that had felt just a little too hopeful. ]
How do you feel?
we did it good job us
... normal. As in normal for the morning after, so not great, but not...
[ and here's the part he probably should've started with, slightly under his breath, mostly in disbelief: ] It worked.
the thread i have been waiting forever for
derek's expression shifts at that, turns into cautious optimism. it's been a long couple of months for a lot of reasons, but this thing with josh, it was one of them. knowing that it was dealt with... ]
Are you sure? When was your moon?
is that what that face is eppy cautious optimism
The last time you saw me. How long has it been?
[ because it's obviously working now, but if now lines up with his moon - which he will absolutely never call it, thanks derek - then the evidence is moot. ]
according to random icon it is
[ and before that derek had been on the cyllene, and he hadn't really been thinking about what days were specific to that. ]
We can wait it out. See what happens.
[ which would hopefully be nothing at all. ]
derek put your shirt back on
[ sounding less enthusiastic and more anxious by the second, because if this doesn't work - well, where the hell else is he supposed to turn for help, here. ]
I'll have to be careful. Stay near my room, in case it...
[ wears off? and that said, he will blatantly not be staying near his room when shit starts getting weird this month, so forget that. ]
no!!!
I'll be there, if you need me.
[ because that's about all derek can do, reassure josh that he'll lock him back up if need be ]
no subject
Right. I'll keep you updated.
[ an awkward beat, then josh gives him a look that blatantly says he's about to ask how derek's doing if derek doesn't get the fuck out of here. which is to say: he gets the pattern, if derek wants to awkwardly ditch without having to awkwardly deflect first, now's the chance. ]
no subject
Find some better pants. I want those back.
[ totally the direction to steer this conversation in, as derek takes a step backwards. ]
no subject
I think I can handle that.
[ slightly irritable. please, he doesn't want your filthy hipster jeans anyway. ]
It was great catching up with you, by the way. [ also irritable, entirely sarcastic. he appreciates the help, really; this is what being friends looks like. ?? ] Are you planning on actually moonwalking out of the room, or... ?
no subject
I wasn't moonwalking.
[ yes, object to that first derek, good job. ]
no subject
[ but hey, whatever, to each his own. ]
You know this is what normal people do, right? Talk? Show interest in each other's lives? If you're not careful I'm going to start thinking you liked me better as a dog.
[ which is totally a joke. except now that he's said it, pardon the sudden (stupid) flash of insecurity. ] Do you like me better as a dog?
no subject
[ 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. ]
no subject
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. ]
quick phone tag before bed!!!
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. ]
!!!!
You have a sister?
[ they'll get to the her being here part later. first, what the hell. ]
no subject
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.
no subject
[ not burned to death. that's the implication, but you know. unnecessarily morbid. ]
no subject
[ 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 ]
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
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. ]
derek aren't u glad you've qualified for friend word vomit status
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.
no can he downgrade from this....
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" ]
nice icon isn't that a bit melodramatic
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. ]
derek is a drama queen news at 11
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.
that is so two thousand and late ok
lmfalksdjga
skdfkljsd!!!!!
don't you skdfkljsd me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SKJDFKSJHDFLKJ!!!!!!!! my tags are going downhill sry
no unacceptable take them back pls