deercountry | ( event and other things catch all )

( they both know that something's changed as soon as they disappear. one second, they're both in the place they've become used to being, stuck in trench for a long time now.

but then, she disappears and stefan freaks out. he doesn't think she's been taken home because her belongings are still there. but she's gone, suddenly, and he doesn't like it. when he sits down on the couch to try and think on what he can do, he feels the cushions starting to cave in and then he's — gone.

until he's not. he wakes up and the place around him is familiar but not. this is trench but in a distorted, ruined kind of way. and the other thing he realizes quickly?

he can't hear. but this has to be the place that katherine's been taken so he gets up and starts walking, heading to try and find her. he has to find her. has to. )

Well, this fucking...blows.

( amos isn't sure what happened. one second he was walking into a store to get some beer and the next, he was here. without beer. he doesn't know where here is though. or well he knows but this isn't right. this place isn't how it should be. it's trench but if it had been gutted by a fire and aliens and everything else. it's just...shitty.

someone passes him and amos steps in front of them to ask them a question but the person just shoves amos out of the way with a sneer and keeps walking.

which — that's fine. he can deal with that because it immediately trips the anger switch in him and he shouts: )

Hey, fuckface.

( and then he runs at the other man, slams into his back and throws a punch. because of course he does. )

[ she's literally right behind him.

no, seriously. she's right behind him. ]

Stefan! Stefan!

[ she rolls her eyes and follows him, not bothering to super speed to try and get in front of him. he should be turning around and embracing her or... saying something about her choice of shoes (heels). their house looks like shit and the air smells a little funkier, and stefan's walking away from her like he's a man on a mission.

she claps her hands in the hopes he'll turn around. ]

[ this is not her doing, btw.

wanda's been in this dilapidated version of the trench for a handful of hours now. she's walked the streets and noted all the discrepencies from the trench she knows like the back of her own hand. the magic here feels slightly different, twisted in a way that makes her uneasy. but she treads on, knowing that she can handle anything that gets in her way.

like amos burton punching someone.

she doesn't get involved. there's really no point in throwing herself in between the two of them. for one, amos has it all handled. secondly, well... he doesn't need her help, does he? he didn't want it last month and she doubts he wants it now.

so she does what she can only do: she crosses her arms against her chest and shakes her head. ]

Your social skills are improving.

( unfortunately, stefan completely ignores her but it's not on purpose. he just...can't hear. and he should realize that not being able to hear means he should be paying more attention to his surroundings but — that doesn't happen.

he stops in tracks, cups his hands over his mouth and yells: )

Katherine!

( hope she hears that being right behind him and all. )

( the fight doesn't last too long. amos gets a few good hits in and the townsperson decides that's enough, gets up and leave.

amos is just getting to his feet, shaking his hand out when he realizes that wanda's nearby, giving him a critique. )

Yeah thanks, I think I'm almost ready to move onto throwing parties now.

I'm right here!

[ she yells that as loud as she can from behind him. stomping her foot, she plants her hands on her hips as she glares at the back of his head. it's like he's being purposefully obtuse!

marching over towards him, she taps him with a very sharp finger on the shoulder. ]

Hello! Can't you hear me?

( that gets his attention and stefan swings around, finally seeing katherine there. she looks angry but he's just so relieved so he reaches for her and tugs her in close, pulling her into a tight embrace.

god, he hate this place sometimes. )

Woah.

[ she laughs while she frowns in confusion. easily wrapping her arms around him, she rests her chin on his shoulder as she peers at the wall. he's acting, well... stranger than usual. it's almost like he's alice emerging from the rabbit hole. ]

Nice to see you, too.

I can't hear you!

( he shouts that and just doesn't realize that he's doing it. he can't hear a freaking thing and she's going to suffer for it. )

I don't know what happened but I can't hear you!

( and it's not a problem of wax in his ears. )

Jesus.

[ she widens her eyes before she shakes her head. pulling away from him, she keeps her hands on his shoulders as she stares at his face. narrowing her eyes, she takes him in to note that the scales have most definitely not returned. ]

You don't need to yell.

What?

( he tries to read her lips and fails before shaking his head. at least he doesn't yell that. )

I'm sorry — I don't know what's happened to me.

[ katherine pinches one of his earlobes.

this time, when she speaks, she does so very, very slowly. ] Trench.

[ then she lifts her hand and throws her thumb up. yes? did you get that? ]

Yeah, but different. Not what we're used to.

( he's not screaming anymore, at least. and he's paying very close attention to her lips while swatting at the fingers at his ear. )

This is weird, isn't it?

[ thank god he's not yelling. her ears are delicate because her hearing is so sharp.

katherine rests her hand against his cheek to console him. he doesn't look any different and doesn't feel any different. his heartbeat's still firm. whatever this is, it's a new affliction. (at least he's not human this time.) ]

A little.

[ she ensures to speak slowly. ]

This is new, isn't it? [ with her other hand, she gently touches his ear. ]

[ she snorts. ]

I can't see you putting streamers up on the ceiling.

[ not that wanda knows how to throw parties, really. she doesn't ask him if he needs help. amos has that all handled. ]

What did he do to you?

[ note how she doesn't ask "what did you do?" ]

Yeah.

( there's no pain there but he still winces when she touches his ear. he tugs at his other one and then shakes his head. )

I don't know what happened. It was just — like this when I got here.

Bumped into me and acted like it was my fault.

( clearly a reason to be shitty about it. )

I was just going to let it go but then he decided to be a punk.

Uh-huh.

[ she nods, although it's very clear that wanda doesn't believe him. (it's more fun that way.) ]

You were going to let it go.

[ you? really? ]

Yeah, I was.

( don't judge him, wanda. )

I got bigger shit to worry about than that guy.

Hm.

[ katherine tilts her head as she eyes him for a moment. that's the biggest clue. brushing the back of her fingers against his cheek, she studies his face with a slight frown. ]

I'm not affected. [ at least, she doesn't think so. katherine pinches her arm just to make sure. ] So, we need to get out of here to fix it.

[ she cocks her brow at that and widens her smile. he's so entertaining sometimes and this is one of those moments. if only she had a bag of popcorn to complete her picture of amusement. ]

What happens if he has friends and he goes and gets those friends to come beat you up?

[ she arches her brow higher then. ]

Still got bigger shit?

Get out of here?

( he thinks that's what she's said but he can't be sure. he's never had to lipread before and it's not as easy as it seems.

stefan shakes his head. )

How?

Stop asking hypothetical questions. I'm too tired for that.

( amos rolls his eyes and starts walking back in the direction he'd been coming from. )

If that happens, i'll take care of it.

[ rather than speak this time, she grabs his forearm and lifts it so that his arm forms a horizontal line. she tucks her little finger, ring finger and thumb into her palm and walks her index and middle finger along his forearm all the while pointedly looking at him. ]

Walk.

[ or they can skip if he thinks her finger-feet are moving to such a rhythm. ]

( event and other things catch all )

( don't yell at me, i can't hear you anyway )

( where you at, girl? )

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