( CLOSED ) THEY'LL NEVER TAKE MY POWER.

[manipulative]

Who: Stefan and Katherine + Amos and Wanda.
What: Getting into shit in August.
When: August.
Where: Everywhere.

Content Warnings: Scales on skin. Magic; reality manipulation; mind control; paranoia.

Comments

[manipulative]

Nope.

[ katherine steps into him and presses her chest to his back. wrapping her arms around him, she smiles as she rests her chin against the back of his shoulder and hugs him tightly. ]

We can now.

[prescind]

Does that mean you're not worried?

( he doesn't want to fight with katherine about going to the hospital here. )

I feel okay.

[manipulative]

[ oh, katherine's worried. but katherine has learned over the years—and especially over the last two here—that it's best to pretend that she's not. if she shows it, she ends up feeding stefan's anxiety. ]

Not really.

[ she keeps herself plastered to his back as she runs her hands up his chest. ]

Still feel very like yourself to me.

[prescind]

Did you think I wouldn't? That these...whatever they are would make me feel weird?

( trick question: he'd been the one to think that was going to happen. )

[manipulative]

I never know what to expect here, Stefan. [ she says it on a sigh.

still, she clings to him like a barnacle. given that he's surprised her with being mortal—and he's surprised her by not finding a home permanently six feet under—katherine's learned quickly to embrace the unpredictability of the trench. it is, after all, what she thrives in. unpredictability. ]

Do you feel weird?

[prescind]

Not...really.

( he doesn't think he does, at least. he rubs at his cheek though and makes a face. )

I'm not human, if that's what you're thinking of. And I know you might be.

[manipulative]

Pfft.

[ katherine pulls a face, but that prompts her to pull back from him temporarily. she pinches his hip hard, just to double check. although his skin definitely reddens... at least it doesn't break and stay red. ]

Just checking.

[prescind]

Did you just test me?

( stefan laughs and looks down. )

Trying to see if you leave a mark behind?

[manipulative]

Wouldn't you do the same if it was me looking all scaly?

[ she laughs, cocking her brow. she's certain he'd be pinching and scratching and furrowing his brow and adding more to his frown lines. at least katherine didn't pinch him too hard.

but she does pinch the other hip for good measure. evening things out is good! ]

[prescind]

I wouldn't.

( because he'd be trying to drag her to the hospital for a checkup. he doesn't say that though. )

I'd trust you to know something was wrong.

[manipulative]

[ she arches her brow higher as she regards him with amusement. that sounds like the biggest crock of shit she's ever heard in her life. ]

You'd trust me when I have scales all up and down my body? [ she chuckles slightly. ] We're still talking about you, right?

[prescind]

I don't have scales all up and down my body.

( there were just a few of them. it wasn't like he was some alligator man. )

It's not that many. They'll be gone tomorrow.

( he hopes. )

[manipulative]

Hm.

[ katherine trails her nail down his side to his hip where she pinches him again—a little sharper this time. ]

I'd still like you even if you were made of scales.

[prescind]

You wouldn't have me made into a pocketbook? Ow!

( stop that. she might not have any scale but he still pinches her in retaliation. )

[manipulative]

Hey!

[ she laughs and bats his hand away. ]

I'd have you made into a nice pair of pants, thank you.

[ a pocketbook. really? does she seem like the pocketbook type? ]

[prescind]

Pants?

( stefan makes a face. )

Pants out of scaly material? That sounds uncomfortable.

[manipulative]

At least you'd be on my ass.

[ katherine scrunches up her face as she laughs at that one.

with a deep sigh, she looks down at his hips and shakes her head. all joking aside, she peers up at him and cocks her brow pointedly. ]

You'll have to tell me if it starts to hurt.

[prescind]

It's going to be okay.

( he hopes. )

Maybe I'm just —

( no, no more excuses. )

I'll be fine.

[manipulative]

So convincing. [ she drawls.

but stefan will be fine because she willed it. if she wants him to be fine, he will be fine. it's as simple as that. what katherine wants, katherine gets. ]

I think you should give me a kiss before your mouth goes all scaly and you become the worst kisser in history.

[prescind]

Is that your way of saying you wouldn't love me if I was covered in scales?

( that's discrimination against reptiles, katherine. )

[manipulative]

Yes.

[ she soberly nods. katherine doesn't even look ashamed, although she does feign heartbreak. ]

That's where I draw the line, Stef.

[ she can love dead men, but she can't love dead men with scales. ]

[prescind]

Scales is a dealbreaker, huh?

( he laughs, amused. )

What about fur?

[manipulative]

[ she's not a furry, jsyk!

katherine shrugs and feigns sheepishness as she glances away. ] It depends on where it is.

[prescind]

Oh god, I can't believe I'm going to ask this but —

( yeah, he's definitely going to ask. )

Where would be acceptable?

[manipulative]

[ oh, he's given her an inch and she's going to take a whole freaking mile with it.

katherine feigns thoughtfulness and pinches her lips to the side of her mouth as she eyes him. and she makes a grand show of eyeing him, too, as it's one of her favourite things to do.

when she looks up at him again, she taps one of his ears. ]

There.