deercountry | ( january catch all )

I'm not sick!

[ katherine doesn't bother to lift her head off the pillow or her upper body from the bed. ]

Would I look this amazing if I was?

You realize that you're sweating right now.

( probably from the fever. )

You still look good but just wanted to let you know that you can rest and not feel great, Katherine.

I could be sweating for other reasons, you know.

[ she looks at him rather pointedly. there are plenty of reasons to sweat! wearing too many clothes… someone having the hot water on full blast… stefan existing. ]

If you think I'm sick, shouldn't you be in another room?

If you're sick, I've already gotten whatever it is you have.

( but so far, he feels fine so he thinks he's going to be fine. )

Maybe this time it's just you that's affected when it's typically me. Look at that, finally get to be on the other side of things.

[ katherine rolls her eyes. ] You don't have to be so cheery about it. It's making me feel nauseous.

[ she pokes her tongue out at him, but remains on the bed with her head against the pillow. she does feel a little unwell, but it's nothing she can't handle. ]

I didn't want you to feel bad about yourself.

[ that's clearly why she got sick. ]

I think you're mistaking my concern for cheerfulness.

( because he is concerned. )

Are you going to complain the entire time you're sick?

[ she makes a show of considering his question when she and he already know her answer.

she smiles. ] Yes. [ snuggling into his pillow, she scrunches her nose playfully at him and tries her best not to sniff hard. ] And I'm going to enjoy what little I can of it. Hope you don't mind.

Uh huh.

( he rolls his eyes. )

I never complained when I was sick because of this place.

[ she frowns in disagreement at that. ] You always complained.

[ truthfully, stefan was a very good patient—perhaps the best someone like katherine could ask for. ]

'Oh no, I can't brood. Oh no, Katherine, you're so hot and I can't brood.' [ she looks at him pointedly. ] Very whiny.

I did not always complain.

( maybe he got a little fussy because he hated having to deal with things he wasn't used to dealing with but —

never complained. )

I let you look after me.

Always complained!

[ he didn't complain, which was one of her complaints. whenever he gets hurt, she does a lot of complaining. she thinks it balances them both out. ]

You had no other choice. I wasn't going to let some other person look after you. [ she scrunches up her nose in distaste. ] No one can be trusted.

I'm pretty sure you're making things up here, Katherine.

( pretty, very sure. he laughs a bit. )

Oh, no one can be trusted but you? You're the only one to make sure I healed correctly?

Exactly.

[ she nods determinedly. now, he's getting it. there's hope for him yet. ]

I'm old. [ she shrugs casually. ] And I know things. With age comes wisdom, you know.

With age comes wisdom only when you want it to.

( he feels the need to add that because it's true. )

Because I'm pretty sure you like to play dumb sometimes.

[ she scoffs and thinks to remind him that she's never dumb, but there's a difference between being dumb and playing dumb, and she's going to take the win from what stefan doesn't say. she's very, very smart. 😌 ]

If I never played dumb, life wouldn't be fun for you. I'd solve all the problems.

[ like how she's sick, for one. it's best she leaves something for stefan. ]

I beg to differ.

( because life is never, ever boring with her and he knows that would remain true even if she didn't play dumb.

he puts the back of his hand against her brow. she feels warmer now and he doesn't like it at all. )

How's your energy right now?

[ deadpans, ] Bouncing off the walls.

[ katherine closes her eyes, but it's not because she's lacking in energy or anything of the sort. she just thinks this is the time to close one's eyes. it's good to let her other senses flare a little. ]

I could run a whole loop around the neighbourhood.

Ordinarily I would challenge you to prove it but I know you're sick so you're not doing that.

( and also — )

I don't believe you either. You might not be dead tired but you're definitely not feeling yourself.

[ keeping her eyes closed, she scrunches up her face in annoyance at that. ]

I feel like myself. I want shoes.

[ that's the most katherine thing to ever katherine. ]

You want shoes.

( he thinks she'd say that even if she were on her deathbed. shoes would never ever be something that she turned down. )

For what reason?

[ she doesn't answer immediately, instead taking the opportunity to snuggle into his pillow. she smiles to herself. ]

Because they'll make me feel better.

[ she opens one eye, wanting to see his reaction. ]

Do you want new shoes or do you want me to go get you a pair of shoes you already have?

( he thinks he might know the answer to that one. )

[ while she'd like a new pair of shoes, that would require her to try them on and test them, and sometimes the shoes simply don't fit her. a new pair of shoes requires a lot of effort.

katherine pouts sulkily. ]

Mine. Nothing strappy. I'm not in the mood for strappy.

Nothing strappy.

( he frowns, crossing his arms. )

Are you going to cuddle with them, Katherine? Because I can get you a stuffed animal for that.

[ she opens her eyes and rolls them before she scoffs. ]

No.

[ honestly, stefan! this is why he needs to be supervised when around her shoes. his ideas are absolutely questionable.

but she smiles and clears her throat gently. ]

That's why I have you.

[ she's so smooth. ]

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