deercountry | ( the dog days are over )

Mhm.

[ she nods, tilting her chin upward defiantly. ]

And I hope you're not implying that I'm capable of fault. I'm the one who's going to be taking care of you, Stefan. In a very comfortable uniform. [ she winks at him before looking out at the road. ]

( stefan groans and shakes his head. he doesn't want her to wear the nurse's uniform because he's just going to want to do things he's not going to be able to do just yet. )

I didn't say anything.

( he zips his lips and laughs quietly. )

I know you're going to be taking care of me. Wouldn't want to upset the doctor.

Doctor Petrova.

[ she hums, mulling it over. it sounds nice. if only katherine had been able to stay in one place for years at a time, maybe she would've seen if a medical licence was in her grasp.

she pulls to a stop in front of a set of lights, grateful that she doesn't need to rush through them this time. ]

I might have a doctor's uniform, too.

[ a sexy one, obviously. ]

No uniforms, please.

( he's begging you, katherine, please do him this solid. )

I love your uniforms but let me recover from being a human and some snake trying to kill me before we roleplay. I don't want to miss out.

[ she lets out a rich laugh, gently pressing her foot against the accelerator as she guides the car forward. while she does consider ignoring him and dressing up in that nurse uniform, she does take pity on him. he's not well. she doesn't want him to pull a muscle and be hurt forever even into his vampire life. ]

Okay.

[ she smiles at him, chuckling. ]

Just this once, we'll do it your way.

Thank you.

( he does appreciate that and he blows her a kiss to show her how much before sighing and sitting up. )

How was that hospital in comparison to the last one?

( he'd been a little out of it so he hadn't paid attention. )

[ you know what she's doing to do with that kiss?

catch it.

this is stefan's influence. ]

It was... [ she purses her lips thoughtfully and sighs quietly. the blood ministers had made her feel somewhat confident, even if she didn't quite believe them at all. (no one would have been a good expert on stefan's health, not even the most prized physician.) ]

Nicer. The staff are efficient, at least. They don't stare at walls until you talk to them and "activate" them.

Did you have to compel anyone?

( she hasn't complained of a headache, at least, and he doesn't sense any pain there. )

It didn't feel like the entire floor was under compulsion but I didn't really pay attention so maybe I missed it.

[ she pauses for a deliberate moment. ]

Yes.

[ she clears her throat. is she proud of having compelled so many people? eh. she hardly cares. does she want stefan worrying about her? no. she'd much rather he worry about whether or not she's going to be wearing the nurse's outfit.

katherine doesn't look at him. ]

I compelled everyone I came into contact with. You were treated like a royal family member.

And?

( if she'd done that in deerington, her head would be pounding and she'd be doing everything in her power not to let on. )

How's your head?

It's still attached.

[ it's fine; she doesn't have a headache, even if there's a very dull, distant throbbing in the back of her head. she thinks it's more or less from stress and possibly not having a blood bag (or her baked good) than anything else.

she peers at him and smiles. ]

See? Nothing to worry about.

Guess that's a good thing. I wish you didn't have to do it but it's good that you didn't end up with a headache.

( he sighs and rubs at his head. )

My head doesn't hurt either, if you were curious.

I think I was more concerned with all of you rather than just your head.

[ without tearing her gaze from the road, she reaches out to brush her fingers roughly through his hair, clipping his finger with her nails in the process. ]

Still attached, I see. Good. I'd be devastated otherwise.

Devastated? Just devastated?

( stefan laughs and tilts his head forward so she can get a better grip of his hair. )

You wouldn't be stricken? Absolutely unable to go on?

[ if stefan was to lose his head, she'd throw herself into his grave. they've been over this and her declaration hasn't changed over the last several months. ]

Would I be without your shirts? Your shoes to remember you by?

[ katherine's slow to smile, glancing over at him cheekily. ]

Your journals?

Really beginning to wonder if you're with me just for the journals.

( oh, he knows that's not true but he can't help but tease her a bit. he shakes his head. )

They're really not that interesting.

They're interesting because they're yours.

[ she smiles at him as she pulls into their street. it's strange to think that a year ago, she'd been in this exact car driving along a different street to bring him home. she hopes history is a lot kinder and stops repeating itself after tonight.

katherine doesn't look at him as she smiles shyly. ]

And I like you, in case you didn't realise.

I had no idea.

( no, he did. of course he knows. he smiles back at her and nods. )

But I kind of like you too so it works out.

[ she chuckles and shakes her head. ]

You're lucky I like you so much. Who needs fifty cars?

[ as she pulls up into the drive, she doesn't bother to store the car away in the garage. what's most important is storing him away inside. cutting the engine, she turns to face him, giving him a very sharp once-over. ]

What are you looking at me like that for?

( you're making him nervous, katherine. )

You're not carrying me. I can walk.

Hm.

[ she shakes her head and smiles at him, though it's not out of pure amusement. does he think he can walk? as if. katherine's pretty sure he's still human and that means he doesn't have all of his faculties. ]

Wait there.

[ she tugs the keys out and opens the driver's door. speeding over to his side, she opens his door and holds her hand out. ]

Come on, Miss Daisy. You're home.

I don't want to be carried.

( he reaches out to take her hand and lifts himself out of the car, struggling a bit but finding that his legs were pretty steady. he blows out a breath. )

If we walk slow, I'll be fine.

( he needs to walk on his own, though. )

And by the time we reach the house, you'll be one hundred and eighty.

[ no offence, but you're a little on the slow side, stef. it's a kindness that she even let him walk from his hospital bed to the car.

she smiles at him and squeezes his hand gently, but doesn't tug him away from the car just yet. ]

You don't want to be carried by me? You can milk this, you know.

[ pull a katherine. ]

Please, let me try and walk.

( can they compromise on that? he wants to walk but if he can't make it, he'll let her carry him. he just needs to try. )

Just a few steps to show that I can do it.

Only a few.

[ like three. ]

And then I'm carrying you the rest of the way.

[ katherine doesn't crowd stefan, but she doesn't let him go, either. he's human and weak and his usually muscular legs look a bit like chicken bones right now.

but he has every invitation to walk. he just has to take it. ]

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