4.02

[burninhale]

Well, this is it. This is the end. I've been stabbed, shot, electrocuted, set on fire, come back from the dead, and this is what did it. I'm ready to lie down in a grave now. It's all gone, it's over, farewell.








Except coffins and grave plots actually cost money. Which we no longer have. Add to that —

...

No, let's focus on the money. I don't think we need to discuss anything else.

Comments

[coldsteelblue]

What?

[The heck, Peter. This is totally Kate's fault. Derek didn't know she was a treacherous biatch during that time. :|]

It's not my fault you just leave that kinda money laying around. There are such things as savings accounts.

[burninhale]

Derek. Think. Our family is suspiciously long-lived. The bonds weren't started by me.

Now, maybe they should've been removed at some point. But for reasons I really can't get into at this time, I can't have a savings account. Or any kind of bank account. Don't ask.

[coldsteelblue]

Right and this is my fault. But you're the one who's clearly in trouble with Uncle Sam you can't even get a simple bank account. Nice to know you turned out well.

You're losing your touch, Pete. The old Peter would have come up with something extravagant and overly dramatic like... Like burying the bonds in casket underneath a made-up grave plot. [Shrugs.]

[burninhale]

Please stop talking. I want to remember you at this age with affection, not homicidal frustration. Also that's a terrible plan. I wish you were still this age.

[coldsteelblue]

Yeah, well, none of this would have happened if Laura were still alive.

[Pointed look.]

[burninhale]

Let's not get into that, shall we? The blame cake is pretty big. There's enough for a whole lot of people. Only little ghosts from the past get to pass up the plate.

I'd suggest passing it up.

[coldsteelblue]

Fine. Passing it up.

So what do you plan to do now that we're, you know, dirt poor? You are going to get it back, right?

[burninhale]

Yes. Among other things.

Or die trying, that's always an option. I'd prefer if other people died as a result of my trying, though.

[coldsteelblue]

Great. I want in. I wanna help. Enough of us have died already.

[burninhale]

... that's not up to me. But it'd be nice to have you around.

[ Because he's not really better than Kate when it comes to manipulating Derek. But he can pretend it's sentiment. ]

[coldsteelblue]

Twenty claws are better than ten. Plus, you missed the part where I took on two of those Berserker things. It was awesome.

[Poor little, naive Derek. Surrounded by sociopaths.]

[burninhale]

[ This time, as opposed to the one million times before when Peter gave Derek terrible advice or bullied him, he'll be a good uncle! Truly. This time. ]

You're right. Scott does well under the circumstances, but he wasn't born to this like you. You'd be a lot of help.

[coldsteelblue]

[That'll be the day alright. But in his defense, Peter's been shooting pretty straight lately, not completely, but it's a start. Maybe.]

Speaking of which, you weren't the best alpha. There's still a lot Scott doesn't know. Good job.

[burninhale]

Yeah, that thought had occurred to me, some time after they set me on fire and before someone clawed my throat out. But thank you, one more reminder definitely won't make me snap and hang you upside down over a toilet. Which is so much more possible with you at this size, by the way.

[ Misdirecting the conversation away from serious matters? Never! ]

[coldsteelblue]

[Derek's not going call Peter's bluff so he'll do it silently...with a doubtful face calling his bullshit.]

Only because you were running around town as the homicidal psychopath. Sooo yeah, you lose yet another point.

[There is no misdirecting. This Derek is a lot more talkative than his older counterpart, have fun with that.]

[burninhale]

[ Peter makes an exasperated little sound at Derek's refusal to be misdirected. It's all coming back to him now. Maybe this Derek would be more easily manipulated, but there is still a price. A price called "no peace ever again god why." ]

Everyone's a critic. I didn't choose homicidal psychopathy, it chose me. And what I said still stands. Scott is doing well under the circumstances, you'd be very useful to him, and so on. Can we talk about something else?

[coldsteelblue]

[Derek smirks smugly. For some reason, pestering Peter's older self is a lot more satisfying if only because there's no real repercussions for it. Older Pete gets a point back, he's a much cooler uncle.]

Okay, let's talk about how we're severely outgunned because all we have is your mostly untrained beta and his motley group of friends - who don't like you at all - and Kate has three Beserker things. Oh yeah. We're broke, too, apparently.

I miss anything?

[burninhale]

[ Twice already he's held back things he would've said to the adult Derek. Peter suspects this instinct will wear off with enough exposure, and also suspects he might even feel a bit guilty when it does. Which is irritating in its own right — only Cora might get the same reaction — but he's squashing that for now.

"Your mostly untrained beta" helps. ]

"Outgunned" is more or less the status quo. There are some other people you may meet. The Nemeton is active again. You know, just Beacon Hills stuff.

[coldsteelblue]

That's sad. Yeah, real good job holding everything together. No wonder this town has gown crazy.

[This, none of it, would have happened if Talia was still alive, but that can probably be traced back to Derek.. Really, though, it's Kate's fault. He supposes he'll have to make due with Peter, which is kinda hard to do when, you know, it's Peter.]

[burninhale]

What is it about homicidal psychopathy that makes you think "holding everything together" would be my forte, exactly? And why are we still talking about this?

[ He's trying to be good! And it is so difficult and unrewarding! It'd be so easy to say something awful about Derek's turn as alpha. Naturally, he'd make it sound a lot worse than it was. That would be beyond petty, though. ]

[coldsteelblue]

Fine, I'm dropping it for real this time. It's just that everything is different.

[The effort to be nice doesn't go unappreciated. It really shows how much Peter has grown, but the fact he's biting his tongue because it's this Derek and not the brooding one says a lot.]

so sorry, I couldn't resist.

[smilederek]

[There is the distant clearing of a throat.

Your throat, technically. Only a way more stubble covered version.

Outgunned? With THESE GUNS?]

You missed something.

no worries, glad you couldn't!

[coldsteelblue]

Oh yeah, and what am I miss-? Whoa.

[He does a double take to make sure it's really who he think it is.

Is that-? Are you me?

[smilederek]

Yes.

[One day, you will lose the ability to use multisyllabic words. This is your future.]

And you're way too trusting.

[sage advice from the future.]

[coldsteelblue]

Too trusting?

[He doesn't like this future. Take it back!

Don't mind him, just circling about and, brows furrowed and all that.]

What's wrong with us?

[You.. He means you, older Derek. Tense, brooding, silent, ever present scowl... The future is looking like a very dark place.]