[stiles starts to nod slowly, still staring at the communicator in his hand. then he starts shaking his head instead.]
Maybe. I don't know. Did they?
She was quicker than the oni, how did she do that? Are there creatures that move like the Flash, Derek? She wasn't very nice. Sort of creepy. I think she kissed me. Or maybe I was dreaming. Is this a dream too, Derek?
[and then he actually looks at derek, and there's something quiet and frightened in his eyes] There aren't any bear traps on this ship, are there?
[ it's a lot to take in. it worries derek, the rush of words, the way stiles looks, what he's talking about. ]
There's a lot of creepy things on this ship that move fast. [ dryly, because derek's bumped into a few of them, isn't eager to get into detail. ] There aren't bear traps. Not that I've ever seen.
[ he doesn't know why stiles is asking, but it's an easy answer to give, firmly and without any hesitation, derek certain of himself. ]
[a tautness leaves stiles' body at derek's reassurance about the bear traps. that's twice now that his unconscious has caught him in one of those things, and he doesn't know how it manages to comprehend the levels of agony that one would experience in such a situation, but it has just the same. he isn't terribly eager to test the validity of his mind's hypothesis anytime soon, in any case.
almost absentmindedly stiles reaches into his pocket and feels for the now painfully familiar shape and weight of the key sitting in there. the key he can't ever remember not having, even if he isn't entirely sure where it leads to. what it unlocks.]
[ he's out of his depth. derek gets that. he's not much for comfort. he's good at making himself into what people need, but most of the time that's nothing like this. ]
[ not that derek understands what stiles means by last time, by coyote den. he doesn't get half of this conversation, doesn't know what's happened. he's missing pieces. this isn't really new for derek, but he's still frustrated by it, and that makes his tone sharper than it needs to be. ]
[ derek's at a loss. the thread of conversation doesn't mean anything good. derek knows that. but stiles is talking around whatever's got him worked up, and derek doesn't-- ]
Are you having nightmares since you got here?
[ the ship does that, has done that. derek knows there were nightmares for a stretch, a long period of sleeplessness, a long period of good dreams. the ship does things, and stiles was having trouble, when he was last here. derek isn't sure if it's something that existed before, or if it's something that started here. ]
[stiles says this easily, even if "since" isn't necessarily the right word. "since long before" would be far more accurate. but then, that was more than one word, wasn't it?]
Unless this is the dream and the other stuff is real.
And I'm gonna be honest with you, Derek. Nothing about this place seems very real right now.
[ considering the reality of their situation is...not fun. derek has long since given up on deciding whether or not this was a dream. it's real now. it's real enough when it's trying to kill him. he's stopped bothering with it. ]
It's real, Stiles. All of it.
[ with a shrug, like this isn't difficult information to process. ]
[stiles agrees, even if he doesn't necessarily believe. there's nothing to stop a manifestation of his mind from telling him he's awake. especially if he's trying to trap himself somewhere again.
derek is a pretty solid and comforting prescence though, regardless. and he's too tired to look beyond that right now.]
People here are pretty shitty then. I guess that's real enough.
[ though derek thinks his list of shitty people might differ from stiles. but he isn't going to bring that up either, is still faintly worried about whatever woman stiles was talking about. he can't smell her on him, but he wouldn't be able to pick her out if he tried. ]
You should take the room next to us. I don't care if you move in with Scott and Isaac, but you shouldn't be up here on your own. It's stupid.
[ which is essentially the same speech derek gave cora. they're stronger in a group, regardless of all the other baggage they brought to the table. ]
[ is derek's answer, which is painfully true. there's not many left from his jump. derek doesn't like thinking about that, about how many people have gone. ]
No pirates. [ dismissive, because derek isn't all that invested in pirates. there's a pause, then derek sighs. ] Do you remember what she looked like? The person who attacked you?
[stiles thinks about saying something sarcastic concerning the idea that if there was only one room on derek's floor he would have to be moving in with derek... except that almost sounds reassuring and not funny at all, so instead he just says;]
So I'll move to one of those rooms then.
[he makes a small moue of displeasure at arima's apparent lack of pirates. sketchy dude with the treasure island obsession had mislead him, how shocking.
you just couldn't trust people these days, could you?]
Dunno. [a shrug] Thin, brunette, pretty. Really really well dressed.
[ stiles agrees, and derek breathes out, relieved. he'd expected more of a fight, honestly, but he'll take this. everyone on the same floor, more or less, within earshot, eases derek's mind. he's not the alpha, but they're all still pack, as complicated as that is. ]
If you see her again, come find me. Or find someone.
[ though he thinks stiles might prefer to defend himself, which is probably not going to end well one of these days. ]
Are you sure you're alright?
[ like this is some sort of last call, as derek rocks a step back, preparing to leave. or flee. he has a quota of emotional conversation here, stiles, this is fast approaching the limit. ]
Yeah yeah, I get it, use the buddy system. Whatever.
[waving a hand dismissively between him and derek. always so melodramatic, honestly derek. not that it would do stiles much good. with the way she moves, the moment he saw odessa it would already be too later.]
Ohmygod, I'm fiiiiiiiine. [stiles pulls a face, uncomfortable as always being asked how he is. go ahead and leave so he can fall face first in his pillow and pretend to sleep already derek]
[ derek pulls a face, but he doesn't contest that, lets stiles declaration stand. fine is never truthful, but it's enough for now, stiles whole and unscathed in front of him. ]
Alright. I'll see you around then.
[ and then derek just casually retreats, probably to go harass cora, as that's kind of the theme of his month. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 01:40 am (UTC)stiles squints at derek in confusion, communicator still clutched tightly in his hand.]
... wasn't just I talking to you?
[this clearly isn't stiles' very special brand of sarcasm. he is genuinely confused by derek's appearance.]
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 01:58 am (UTC)[ which is ironic, considering all derek does is communicate via text. derek looks at him for a long moment, assessing. ]
Tell me what happened. Someone attacked you?
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 02:07 am (UTC)Maybe. I don't know. Did they?
She was quicker than the oni, how did she do that? Are there creatures that move like the Flash, Derek? She wasn't very nice. Sort of creepy. I think she kissed me. Or maybe I was dreaming. Is this a dream too, Derek?
[and then he actually looks at derek, and there's something quiet and frightened in his eyes] There aren't any bear traps on this ship, are there?
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 02:24 am (UTC)[ it's a lot to take in. it worries derek, the rush of words, the way stiles looks, what he's talking about. ]
There's a lot of creepy things on this ship that move fast. [ dryly, because derek's bumped into a few of them, isn't eager to get into detail. ] There aren't bear traps. Not that I've ever seen.
[ he doesn't know why stiles is asking, but it's an easy answer to give, firmly and without any hesitation, derek certain of himself. ]
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 02:38 am (UTC)almost absentmindedly stiles reaches into his pocket and feels for the now painfully familiar shape and weight of the key sitting in there. the key he can't ever remember not having, even if he isn't entirely sure where it leads to. what it unlocks.]
Why do you think we feel pain in dreams?
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 02:58 am (UTC)[ derek's eyes flick to the motion of stiles hand, watches him put it into his pocket. he nods, jerks his chin towards the bed. ]
Sit down. [ brusquely, because derek's worried, and that always manifests the same way, clipped and sharp, businesslike. ] Why are you asking?
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 03:03 am (UTC)I have never once woken up from a dream because of the pain, so I think your theory is a little flawed there Derek.
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 03:06 am (UTC)[ he's out of his depth. derek gets that. he's not much for comfort. he's good at making himself into what people need, but most of the time that's nothing like this. ]
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 03:19 am (UTC)I think it was a metaphor that time in the coyote den. A really shitty metaphor. But yeah.
I don't know what it was this time, aside from awful.
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 03:22 am (UTC)[ not that derek understands what stiles means by last time, by coyote den. he doesn't get half of this conversation, doesn't know what's happened. he's missing pieces. this isn't really new for derek, but he's still frustrated by it, and that makes his tone sharper than it needs to be. ]
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 03:34 am (UTC)You know, dreams. Nightmares I guess.
[he shivers a little, before he can stop himself. frowns and bites his bottom lip, which is cracked and dry.]
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 03:41 am (UTC)Are you having nightmares since you got here?
[ the ship does that, has done that. derek knows there were nightmares for a stretch, a long period of sleeplessness, a long period of good dreams. the ship does things, and stiles was having trouble, when he was last here. derek isn't sure if it's something that existed before, or if it's something that started here. ]
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 03:52 am (UTC)[stiles says this easily, even if "since" isn't necessarily the right word. "since long before" would be far more accurate. but then, that was more than one word, wasn't it?]
Unless this is the dream and the other stuff is real.
And I'm gonna be honest with you, Derek. Nothing about this place seems very real right now.
[apart from the key...]
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 03:56 am (UTC)It's real, Stiles. All of it.
[ with a shrug, like this isn't difficult information to process. ]
I've been here long enough to know.
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 04:07 am (UTC)[stiles agrees, even if he doesn't necessarily believe. there's nothing to stop a manifestation of his mind from telling him he's awake. especially if he's trying to trap himself somewhere again.
derek is a pretty solid and comforting prescence though, regardless. and he's too tired to look beyond that right now.]
People here are pretty shitty then. I guess that's real enough.
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 04:23 am (UTC)[ though derek thinks his list of shitty people might differ from stiles. but he isn't going to bring that up either, is still faintly worried about whatever woman stiles was talking about. he can't smell her on him, but he wouldn't be able to pick her out if he tried. ]
You should take the room next to us. I don't care if you move in with Scott and Isaac, but you shouldn't be up here on your own. It's stupid.
[ which is essentially the same speech derek gave cora. they're stronger in a group, regardless of all the other baggage they brought to the table. ]
action!!
Date: 2014-04-28 12:05 pm (UTC)I don't know how thrilled Isaac would be with me rooming with him, to be honest.
[and then he changes the subject]
So you went down to Arima? Did you see any pirates?
action!!
Date: 2014-05-10 03:22 am (UTC)[ is derek's answer, which is painfully true. there's not many left from his jump. derek doesn't like thinking about that, about how many people have gone. ]
No pirates. [ dismissive, because derek isn't all that invested in pirates. there's a pause, then derek sighs. ] Do you remember what she looked like? The person who attacked you?
action!!
Date: 2014-05-10 05:52 am (UTC)So I'll move to one of those rooms then.
[he makes a small moue of displeasure at arima's apparent lack of pirates. sketchy dude with the treasure island obsession had mislead him, how shocking.
you just couldn't trust people these days, could you?]
Dunno. [a shrug] Thin, brunette, pretty. Really really well dressed.
action!!
Date: 2014-05-15 01:59 am (UTC)If you see her again, come find me. Or find someone.
[ though he thinks stiles might prefer to defend himself, which is probably not going to end well one of these days. ]
Are you sure you're alright?
[ like this is some sort of last call, as derek rocks a step back, preparing to leave. or flee. he has a quota of emotional conversation here, stiles, this is fast approaching the limit. ]
action!!
Date: 2014-05-15 02:07 am (UTC)[waving a hand dismissively between him and derek. always so melodramatic, honestly derek. not that it would do stiles much good. with the way she moves, the moment he saw odessa it would already be too later.]
Ohmygod, I'm fiiiiiiiine. [stiles pulls a face, uncomfortable as always being asked how he is. go ahead and leave so he can fall face first in his pillow and pretend to sleep already derek]
action!!
Date: 2014-05-15 02:40 am (UTC)Alright. I'll see you around then.
[ and then derek just casually retreats, probably to go harass cora, as that's kind of the theme of his month. ]
action!!
Date: 2014-05-15 02:43 am (UTC)have fun with cora, derek!]