out of the fire, into the frying pan

[prescind]

Who: stefan salvatore (prescind) + katherine pierce (manipulative)
What: wtfing at their surroundings, exploring, figuring stuff out
When: early september
Where: cellar door, cassandra, all around

Content Warnings: probably some language to start.

Comments

[manipulative]

[ katherine laughs loudly. it seems to echo around them, the river seeming endless and hollow. it's a sound that doesn't sound hollow, though. that's the most hilarious thing she's heard all day. ]

And if one of them is dead?

[ she taps her fingers against his shoulder and looks at him in amusement. ]

Will you go beat up a grave?

[prescind]

I'll go kick dirt on the grave.

( yeah, that'll show him. )

Maybe graffiti the tombstone with a threat not to come back from the dead and go after you.

[manipulative]

[ she smiles, shaking her head incredulously. that's so nice of him, really. it makes her want to make up a list of names for him to do just that to. it feels like a dorky stefan thing, wanting to do the least dangerous thing. ]

Would you do that for me?

[ she's learning quickly that, yes, stefan salvatore will do that for her. ]

[prescind]

If I knew where they were buried, yeah.

( maybe not all of them since it would take time but one or two? he absolutely would. )

Just to make sure they were aware that if they ever made it back from the Other Side, they should stay away from you.

[manipulative]

That's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. Threatened a couple of dead men and a few boys who probably are well into their eighties by now.

[ scrunching up her face, katherine smiles, chuckling softly. stefan being possessive is a nice stefan to see. but, most importantly, it's keeping them both from looking out beyond the canoe. ]

If I tell you their names, will you find a lighthouse to travel through so you can go bully them?

[prescind]

Not right away.

( because he doesn't really want to leave her right now or anytime soon. )

But I will. Put it on my bucket list. Threaten a few men that decided to be nice to you who weren't me.

[manipulative]

You know, no one's ever wanted to do that for me before you.

[ some men have. mason had been particularly protective at times. katherine had played into his need to be the alpha. but none of that had been genuine.

with stefan, it is.

she's sure if she looked up from the canoe, she'd see mason pinned to one of the pillars. so, she doesn't look. mason means nothing to her, but she knows what he represents does in some way. ]

I like it. You being that for me.

[prescind]

I like being that for you.

( stefan smiles over at her because while he hopes that he doesn't have to go hurting people for her, he would if he had to. )

I hope it doesn't have to happen and no one's idiot enough to try that with you. But if they do...

[manipulative]

You'll go threaten them? Tear off some nails? Break some bones?

[ she chuckles. she doesn't think to ask if he'll rip them to shreds. katherine, despite suspecting he would, doesn't particularly want him to think of the ripper right now. ]

It's very romantic.

[prescind]

I have never known someone to be so turned on my physical violence as you.

( he tsks her and then dissolves into laughter, giving his head a quick shake. )

Yes, I'll go do that. I'll go threaten them with so much pain and suffering.

[manipulative]

Good.

[ she smiles. although she knows stefan's very well-aware that she can defend herself, she likes being looked after in such a way. to have someone be so protective is something only he's taught her doesn't mean she's incapable of looking after herself. ]

Does it bother you? I like the fact that you'll go defend my honour.

[prescind]

Why would it bother me?

( katherine doesn't need him to defend her because she can absolutely take care of herself but he likes that she likes it. and he likes that she might actually let him help her sometimes. )

It doesn't bother me. I hope nothing ever gets so bad that I have to do that but it doesn't bother me.

[manipulative]

[ she's very pleased by that. katherine's been very used to those around her being exasperated by her antics—and anything that happens to befall her of no fault of her own. it's nice to not be on the receiving end of that anymore.

she rests her head against his shoulder and keeps her gaze on his knees. resting her hand against his thigh, she doesn't look up at anything—or anyone—who may be hanging outside of the canoe. ]

You have nobby knees.

[prescind]

What?

( he doesn't expect that but it makes him laugh and he looks down at his knees. at least she's not focused on his ass? )

My knees are not knobby. My knees are fine. They're perfectly in proportion with my legs.

[manipulative]

Very bony.

[ she sighs and hums thoughtfully. she brushes her hand against his knee cap and feigns a wince as if he's truly made of sharp knee bones. ]

Like little sharp knobs. You're lucky I'm the only one in the world who can handle them.

[prescind]

Is there anything on my —

( oh, he stops himself there because he knows what she'll say if he continues. so, he just shuts up. )

Never mind.

[manipulative]

[ she smiles. suspecting where his question would've gone, she thinks it's only appropriate he ask it and she answer it. who knows, he may find himself pleasantly surprised... or blushing.

she ducks her head to try and catch his gaze. ]

What?

[prescind]

Nothing.

( after a moment, he relents: )

Is there anything on my body that you do like?

[manipulative]

Yes.

[ katherine smiles wider. ah, sometimes, stefan has no idea when he gives her a wide berth to embarrass him.

but first: she must play a little coy. ]

But you might find it a mess of contradictions, though.

[prescind]

Are you going to answer my question in riddles?

( that'd be a new one. )

Or are you just building up to embarrassing me?

[manipulative]

Both.

[ she smiles widely and brushes her fingers against his chin. speaking in riddles is fun, especially when it sees him blush. ]

I like this. Your jaw. [ she brushes her nails against his skin lightly as she admires him. ]

[prescind]

( stefan shudders and leans into her nails, unable to help himself. )

My face is a square. My jaw makes up the most of it.

( self deprecating to the end. )